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15
Aug 2024
Yorkshire Water announces £1.5m scheme to reduce sewage in River Ure at Ripon
Yorkshire Water is to spend £1.5 million to reduce the amount of sewage being discharged into the River Ure at Ripon.
The firm today said the project, which is already underway, will see a new 995-metre sewer installed in parts of the city.
The scheme is being carried out by Sapphire Utilities Solutions, and work will take place on Red Hills Road, Springfield Close, Kings Mead and Palace Road.
The new sewer will take rainfall flows from nearby properties and prevent them from entering the combined sewer during periods of heavy or prolonged rain, Yorkshire Water added.
By reducing the amount of water entering the combined sewer, and mixing it with wastewater, the number of discharges from the nearby overflow is expected to drop by 75%.
Project manager Lumi Ajayi said the work will cut discharges into the Ure by limiting the amount of surface water that enters the combined sewer network. She added:
By reducing the flows in our network, the frequency and duration of discharges from the Clock Tower overflow will in turn be reduced.
This project is just one small part of a £180m investment across Yorkshire by the end of March 2025 to reduce discharges from our most frequently operating storm overflows.
Yorkshire Water said temporary traffic lights will be in place as work is carried out, including two-way lights on Palace Road and three-way lights as the project moves past junctions.
£47m fine
The move comes shortly after Ofwat announced Yorkshire Water could be hit with a mammoth £47m fine.
It was the result of the water regulator’s biggest ever investigation into the country’s water companies, which saw penalties totalling £168m proposed for the three worst offenders — Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and Northumbrian Water.
Ofwat said most of Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatments works have storm overflows associated with them that spill regularly to the environment.
Over 80% have spilled on 20 or more occasions in at least one of the last four years, Ofwat said, adding more than 50% have spilled on more than 60 occasions.
An Ofwat spokesperson added:
Yorkshire Water has failed to demonstrate that these spills resulted from exceptional circumstances and, in most cases, has failed to properly consider whether cost beneficial solutions existed to address these problems.
Ofwat added 16% of Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment works, with flow to full treatment permits, were found to have capacity or operational problems.
In addition, 45% of storm overflows associated with Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment works were found to be in breach.
Because of the findings, Ofwat said it was also consulting on proposed enforcement orders, which will require each company to rectify the problems the body identified.
The fine equates to around 7% of Yorkshire Water’s turnover and the penalised companies will not be able to recover the money from customers.
You can comment on Ofwat's proposals until 5pm on Tuesday, September 10, by emailing enforcement@ofwat.gov.uk.
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