Regional Yellow Fish pilot targets pollution

Yorkshire Water and River Holme Connections are working together on a pilot scheme to relaunch the national Yellow Fish scheme to the region, in a bid to reduce pollution of rivers, streams, canals, and lakes.  

The environmental awareness scheme involves installing a Yellow Fish symbol next to surface water drains, to remind people that any waste entering them goes directly to the nearest watercourse, including bathing waters, bypassing any form of treatment.  

This means anything that isn’t rain entering the drains could potentially lower water quality in the local environment, and cause harm to wildlife.  

The pilot with River Holme connections, has seen 43 Yellow Fish discs installed in the New Mill area.  

Emily Eden, river health investigation and engagement lead at Yorkshire Water, said: “Oils, detergents, paints, and other harmful substances often make their way into rivers because many people don’t realise that surface water drains are often separate from the foul sewer system and don’t make their way to a wastewater treatment site. 

“The Yellow Fish discs are essentially a small reminder for people that only rain goes down the drain, and a small ask that people dispose of things – from food and drink through to household chemical products – in the proper way so that we can all do a bit more to protect the environment. 

“We’re also hopeful that the little symbols can start conversations and create awareness so that people have a better idea of what a pollution looks like, and the confidence to report it to us and the Environment Agency so that we can investigate.” 

Yorkshire Water has identified several pilot areas in the Holme Valley and Aire catchments and is planning to roll out the next phase of the scheme in Silsden.  

Each location will see the utility working alongside different local community groups and councils – who own the surface water drains - to roll out the plaques. 

Kayleigh Szostak, river ranger at River Holme Connections, said: "It was great being able to relaunch the Yellow Fish project with some shiny new plaques - they are sure to catch people's attention next to surface water drains. The process of installing them was very straight forward, and we managed to mark 43 drains in only a short amount of time while enjoying a bit of spring sunshine! We are looking forward to hearing more about the impact these plaques have and hope it will make people stop and think before putting anything other than rain down the drain." 

Aside from the Yellow Fish scheme, Yorkshire Water is working hard to improve river health and bathing water quality by investing in its network, assets, and operations. This includes: 

• a £1.5bn programme to reduce the use of storm overflows 
• £350m investment at 85 wastewater treatment sites to reduce the amount of phosphorous in treated wastewater 
• £23m on improved monitoring of the wastewater network 
• Significant investments across designated bathing water sites like Ilkley, Wetherby, Knaresborough, Scarborough and Bridlington