£1.6m investment to reduce storm overflows into river Derwent

Yorkshire Water is planning to invest £1.6m at sites in Ellerton (£1.3m) and Kexby (£300,000) to reduce discharges into the river Derwent from storm overflows during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

The schemes are expected to reduce discharges from the overflow on Back Lane, Ellerton by 30% and the overflow at the Kexby wastewater treatment works by 58%. Both will contribute to improving water quality in the river Derwent.

The investment is part of a two-year, £180m project across Yorkshire to reduce discharges from storm overflows by 2025.

Work at Ellerton includes the construction of a new surface water sewer running the full length of the village to remove highways drainage and surface water from some properties from the combined sewer. The surface water will be discharged straight to the watercourse, significantly reducing flows through the combined sewer, cutting discharges of wastewater to the Derwent.

Yorkshire Water and its contractors will also be working to reline 350 metres of the combined sewer in the village to prevent groundwater infiltration into the network.

The project is expected to take up to six months to complete. While work is taking place there may be some traffic disruption on Main Street and Back Lane. Yorkshire Water recently held a meeting with the local Parish Council to discuss the proposed project. Yorkshire Water will also work closely with the local authority highways team to minimise disruption as much as possible.

John Fothergill, asset sponsor at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to playing our part to improve water quality across Yorkshire and are investing £180m before April 2025 to begin to reduce discharges from storm overflows.

“The separation of surface water at Ellerton and lining of the sewer to reduce ground water infiltration of surface water into the combined sewer network will ultimately reduce discharges to the Derwent and help to improve water quality.

“We were pleased to hold a positive and constructive meeting with Ellerton Parish Council on our plans and will be looking to begin work later this year.”

At Kexby wastewater treatment works, Yorkshire Water has already begun work to increase network capacity to accommodate higher flows of wastewater to reduce the use of the overflow.

Samuel Marsh, asset sponsor at Yorkshire Water, said: “These projects, both of which will reduce discharges into the Derwent, are just a small part of our wider plans, which have been submitted to Ofwat for approval, to invest a further £1.3bn to reduce discharges into rivers and seas by 2030.”