Yorkshire Water Archives - Page 18 of 28

Andrew Jones MP appeals for help at ‘critical time’ for River Nidd bathing water bid

Conservative MP Andrew Jones has issued a plea for volunteers to help in the campaign to achieve bathing water status on the River Nidd.

Mr Jones plans to submit an application for bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido after reports of numerous bathers falling ill last summer.

If successful, it would oblige government agencies to take action to improve water quality.

In a three-minute video on his Community News website, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP blamed the Victorian-era sewage system, run-off from agricultural land and drainage from housing estates for polluting the Nidd.

He asked for volunteers to help with the campaign. He said:

“May this year is a critical time as it marks the start of the bathing season when evidence must be collected for the bathing water application that I’m leading.

“This campaign is building momentum but we can’t let it slide. That’s why I’m calling out to anyone who is passionate about our environment or who uses the River Nidd to come forward and help with the volunteer work.”

Mr Jones said data would be collected over summer and urged anyone interested in helping to get in touch.

He said he would be working alongside Nidd Action Group between now and September to apply for bathing water designation.

Steve Kirkley, from Blenkhorn’s Boats

Steve Kirkley, from Blenkhorn’s Boats, which operates boat hire on the Nidd, told the video improved water quality would “lead to more enjoyable surroundings” while David Clayden, secretary of Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, said it would create “a better environment for the river”.

Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said it was important to work in partnership to improve water quality.

‘Nidd plagued by foul sewage’

This week Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, accused Conservative MPs of “blocking new tough measures on water companies” to tackle sewage discharge.

Mr Gordon said the Sewage Discharge Bill would have introduced automatic fines on water companies breaking their sewage dumping permits but Conservative MPs voted to block it.

Mr Gordon, said:

“The Nidd has been plagued by foul sewage discharges. People across Harrogate and Knaresborough are furious about this, yet the Conservative government keeps blocking new laws to get tough on water companies.”

Swimmers take to Swinsty reservoir as part of mass trespass

Bathers took to Swinsty reservoir on Sunday as part of a mass trespass aimed at promoting the right to swim in UK open waters.

It is illegal to swim in Yorkshire Water-owned reservoirs, including Swinsty.

The company and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a joint plea on Friday urging people not to enter reservoirs on safety grounds.

Yorkshire Water estimates 277 accidental drownings occurred in 2021, of which five were in North Yorkshire. Eighty-two percent of the 277 fatalities occurred inland, at reservoirs, lakes and rivers.

Ramblers take part in an annual gathering at Kinder in Derbyshire to mark the 1932 protest that established the right to roam.

But swimmers have taken to the United Utilities-owned Kinder reservoir to exercise “the uncontested right to swim in open water” as part of the protest in the last three years following the boom in wild swimming

Swinsty on Sunday. Pic: Len Downes

Sunday’s gathering at Swinsty in the Washburn Valley took place on the same day as the Kinder trespass.

Kate Rew, founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society, told the Stray Ferret:

“We were there and we communicated to our members about it — but no one organised it, it was a happening.”

Pic: Len Downes

Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said last week:

“It is vital those visiting our sites stay out of the water, no matter how tempting it may appear. Cold water shock, undercurrents and operating machinery all pose dangers to people deciding to enter the water.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said in a statement:

“Reservoirs can be extremely dangerous and swimming in them can soon become serious, or even fatal – even if you are a strong swimmer.”

Reservoir swimming warning amid planned ‘mass swim’ at Swinsty

Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire Fire Rescue Service have warned against the dangers of reservoir swimming in the Harrogate district.

The warning comes amid reports of a ‘mass swim’ planned for Swinsty Reservoir.

In an email to Washburn Parish Council, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the company told the council it had been made aware of a swim in the reservoir this Sunday (April 23).

Yorkshire Water said it would be making its on-site contractors aware of the plan and inform “blue light control rooms and their communications teams”.

It is unclear who has organised the proposed swim or why it is planned to take place.

Meanwhile, both Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have reiterated the dangers of swimming in reservoirs.

Yorkshire Water estimates 277 accidental drowning deaths took place in reservoirs in 2021, 23 of which were in Yorkshire and five in North Yorkshire specifically.

Swimming is not permitted at the company’s reservoirs.

As a result, the company has backed a campaign by the National Fire Chiefs Council to urge people not to enter reservoirs.

Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:

“Tragically we’ve already seen the dangers of open water in our region this year. With the weather set to improve we’re expecting to see a rise in people entering our reservoirs, whether that be those intending to swim or people deciding the water looks inviting. We are once again backing the NFCC campaign to raise awareness of the dangers open water poses.

“It is vital those visiting our sites stay out of the water, no matter how tempting it may appear. Cold water shock, undercurrents and operating machinery all pose dangers to people deciding to enter the water.

“If people see others in difficulty in the water, they should contact the emergency services on 999 as they are trained to deal with such events.”

A statement from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“Reservoirs are large, often open areas of water which are used to store water prior to treatment.

“We have several in North Yorkshire and on hot days they often look tempting to cool off with a swim.

“Although they can look like a lovely way to stay cool, please don’t be fooled. They can be extremely dangerous and swimming in them can soon become serious, or even fatal – even if you are a ‘strong swimmer’.

“Within minutes of a swimmer disappearing beneath the surface it is often too late for the emergency services to help – because of the location of most reservoirs, specialist equipment is needed we may need to wait for this to arrive.”

More roadworks cause delays at Curious Cow roundabout

Temporary traffic lights will be in place near a key junction in Harrogate for the next week as Yorkshire Water connects a new housing development in the area.

Work to connect developments on Skipton Road is affecting the B6161 Otley Road near the roundabout joining the A59 Skipton Road.

It is causing lengthy tailback at the Curious Cow roundabout on the edge of Killinghall.

The work is scheduled to last until next Friday, April 28, though Yorkshire Water said there will a short break this weekend. A spokesperson said:

“Our teams are on site to complete a connection for a new housing development. Traffic lights are in place to allow this work to be carried out safely.

“We have work closely with North Yorkshire Council highways team and to minimise disruption as much as possible the traffic lights will be removed on Saturday and reinstated on Monday for work to continue. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.”

Meanwhile, CityFibre is installing fibre optic cables for broadband along the A61 Ripon Road between Harrogate and Killinghall.

The work, which is being carried out between 7pm and 6.30am, has already begun and is scheduled to continue into next week.

‘Unforeseen circumstances’ delay Oak Beck Bridge replacement — again

A starting date for a £1 million scheme to replace Oak Beck Bridge in Harrogate has still to be set.

North Yorkshire County Council planned to begin work in January last year after saying the current bridge on Skipton Road was in poor condition.

But in June last year, council bridges manager Philip Richardson said the scheme had been delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances” and it was still in talks with Yorkshire Water.

Ten months on, the Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council, which has replaced the county council, for an update.

In a statement that was identical in parts to the one issued last year, Mr Richardson said:

“We realise the importance of replacing Oak BeckBridge. Unfortunately, we have not been able to progress the scheme as quickly as we would have liked due to unforeseen circumstances.

“We are currently in discussions with Yorkshire Water about diverting a sewer to make way for the project. Please be assured that we will begin work as soon as we are able.”

The volume of traffic using Skipton Road is expected to increase after Tesco was granted planning permission to build a supermarket at the nearby junction of Skipton Road and Ripon Road.

When it was awarded the £1.1 million contract to demolish the bridge and build a new one, Leeds-based Howard Civil Engineering said the project would take 24 weeks.

Yorkshire Water discharged sewage into River Nidd 870 times in 2022

Yorkshire Water discharged sewage into the River Nidd 870 times last year.

The Environment Agency published 2022 monitoring data on Friday from all 10 water and sewerage companies in England.

It reveals the 870 sewage discharges into the Nidd lasted for a total of 6,177 hours. Dacre sewage pumping station alone saw 87 spills and 1,014 hours of sewage discharged.

By comparison, there were 318 spills into Oak Beck and Coppice Beck, which lasted for 438 hours.

Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full, which can happen during increased rainfall.

In a statement, Yorkshire Water said it was working to improve the number of times sewage is discharged into rivers in the county.

A spokesperson said:

“While 2022’s figures on overflows show improvement we understand they happen more than our customers would like, and we are determined to tackle this issue and do our bit for river health.”

However, the latest figures prompted Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrats’ prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough to call for a ban on sewage discharges in protected waters.

Tom Gordon

Mr Gordon also called for a ban on water company executives being paid multi-million pound bonuses.

He said:

“These figures are a damning verdict on the government’s attempt to stop Yorkshire Water from dumping sewage into our waterways.

“Local people are furious that our swimming locations and previous wildlife habitats have become poisoned with raw sewage. The Conservative government just doesn’t seem to care. I think it’s time the Environment Secretary resigned and was replaced with somebody who actually cares about our rivers and lakes.

“It is time ministers got tough with Yorkshire Water. They are raking in massive profits all whilst destroying the environment. Frankly, the whole thing stinks.”

The Stray Ferret approached Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, for comment, but did not receive a response.

Water minister Rebecca Pow said:

“The volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is unacceptable and we are taking action to make sure polluters are held to account. 

 ”By bringing in comprehensive monitoring – up from just 7% in 2010 to the most extensive level ever now being at 91% – this government and its regulators have enabled the extent of sewage discharges to be revealed, so that we are better equipped to tackle this challenge.”

Bacteria linked to sewage at ‘concerningly high’ levels in River Nidd

Recent testing of water pollution in the River Nidd has shown the harmful bacteria E. coli is at ‘concerningly high’ levels.

The testing is taking place to support a campaign to clean up the river so a section of it can eventually be designated Bathing Water Status.

This would mean people could enjoy wild swimming in the river by the Knaresborough Lido caravan park without falling ill.

Currently in England, only two rivers, including a section of the River Wharfe in Ilkley, have achieved the status.

Scientists say E. coli in water is a strong indicator of sewage or animal waste contamination and consuming it can lead to severe illness.

Last week in the House of Commons, MPs said raw sewage and micro plastics in the UK’s rivers were putting health and nature at risk.

The campaign in the Harrogate district is gathering momentum and is being led by Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, who secured a debate on the topic in Parliament in November.

Anglers and other concerned groups have set up Nidd Action Group and a meeting was held in Knaresborough this week about how to clean up the river.

A cross-party working group of councillors has also formed to help tackle the problem.

Cllr Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park, updated councillors at North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee today about how the campaign is going.

She said several councillors attended the Nidd Action Group meeting, adding:

“It was a really good turnout. There’s a lot of community support and estimates are around 70 people attended.”

Cllr Slater said anglers as well as scientists at the University of Leeds are testing the river once a month for pollutants and have found that E. coli is at “concerningly high” levels.

Testing will be increased to every fortnight from May 15, which is the beginning of the bathing season.

Earlier in the meeting, councillors heard from Sarah Robinson, corporate affairs advisor at Yorkshire Water.

Ms Robinson gave details about the scale of the problem in the Nidd and what the company is doing to improve its infrastructure.

Water companies are allowed to release sewage into rivers when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during heavy rainfall, through what are called storm overflows.

Ms Robinson said Yorkshire Water had 2,221 storm overflows during 2022 — a figure that is down slightly on last year’s number.

She said the company is set to spend up to £39 million by the end of the decade to improve its infrastructure in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Ms Robinson added:

“We’ve got a long way to go before we’re up to the standard our customers expect.

“We will work out where best to spend our money to reduce our impact and spill less. That process is ongoing. The goal is to reduce the average spills by 20% by 2025.”

Weather warning for Harrogate district as cold snap looms

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for snow and ice across parts of the Harrogate district next week.

The yellow warning, lasting throughout Monday and Tuesday, comes as temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing over night.

Issuing the warning, the Met Office said:

“Snow showers are likely to cause some disruption to travel with a small chance of more widespread disruption for some.

“There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel. There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off [and] a small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

“There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.”

Rural areas in the north and east of the Harrogate district could see temperatures down to -4C at night, while daytime temperatures are likely to be below 6C.

https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1631604769587437568

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water has advised residents to lag pipes that might become frozen if exposed to low temperatures, using foam insulation.

Emily Brady from Yorkshire Water said:

“Check for pipes, taps, cisterns, tanks and water meters in unheated areas that might be exposed to the cold. When you’ve found them, cut a piece of lagging to size and clip it on. If you’ve got some cable ties handy, pop a couple on to keep it secure.

“This will also help insulate your hot water system and could save you money on bills. You can also protect your outdoor taps with a tap cover to stop them freezing.

“If you turn your tap on to find no water, you might have a frozen pipe. First, check all exposed pipes for any leaks or bursts, if you can’t see anything then turn the tap on at your kitchen sink and heat the pipe with a hairdryer. Never ever use a naked flame to defrost a pipe.

“If a pipe has burst then turn your water off at the stop tap to minimise damage and water loss.”

Anyone who would be particularly vulnerable during water supply problems can join Yorkshire Water’s priority services register.

The Stray Ferret will have all the news of road conditions, school closures and more if the weather impacts on local services. Keep checking our website and social media channels for the latest updates.

New 4G mast will boost mobile coverage in Upper Nidderdale

Up to 1,000 Nidderdale residents, businesses and visitors are set to receive 4G phone coverage thanks to a new mast at Scar House reservoir.

The EE mast, which Yorkshire Water installed in partnership with BT, was erected primarily to enable water quality to be monitored remotely.

Yorkshire Water, which owns the reservoir, has installed monitors on water courses feeding Scar House.

Data transmitted by the mast will allow scientists and engineers to proactively select the best available water sources for transfer to its water treatment works.

Weather, temperature, and the condition of the moorland can impact the quality of water sources, as they can influence things like the amount of peat found in the water.

Managing water at its source is a more cost effective and environmentally friendly approach than traditional energy intensive and expensive “end of pipe” treatment solutions.

The better the water quality is at source, the less energy it takes to process at the treatment works, reducing Yorkshire Water’s carbon footprint.

Ted Rycroft, Yorkshire Water’s product and process manager, said:

“Water coming out of customers taps will continue to be the high quality that it always has been – the key change here is that the water coming into the treatment works will be of higher quality, and therefore require less treatment.

“That helps us to keep costs down for our customers and our operational emissions to a minimum, while maintaining our high standards of water quality.”

Ashish Gupta, BT’s managing director for corporate and public sector, hailed the project as “the perfect example of using tech to work smarter – benefiting both local people and the environment”.

Anglers fear worst for fish after raw sewage leaks into river in Ripon

Anglers in Ripon are worried that three years’ work may have been flushed away following a sewage leak on the River Ure.

The local fishing club, Ripon Piscatorial Association (RPA), has been implementing a three-year programme to restock the river with fish, but a cracked pipe at the end of December sent gallons of raw sewage into the Ure at Sharow, and the club says it may have jeopardised the project.

Nathan Proctor, match secretary of the RPA, which owns about a mile of the southern river bank downstream of the ruptured pipe, said:

“Where this leak has happened is right where we’ve been putting fish in. Any fry that hatched out this last year will be struggling.

“We put some roach in the week before Christmas, and we were due to put some barbel in this month. They’re not cheap. As a club we’ve had to spend a lot of money to make sure we keep our members, but if this has killed the fish, we can’t afford another three-year restocking programme. We won’t find out how serious it is until the summer, when water levels are lower.”

Yorkshire Water said it had isolated the broken pipe, which lies five metres below ground, within 45 minutes of first being told of the problem on December 30, and that no sewage has been released from it since.

The company has been transporting sewage from the pipe in tankers to Ripon Wastewater Treatment Works while it replaces the section of pipe, but both tanking and repairs at the site on Sharow Lane have been halted in recent days by flooding.

James Thornborough, a retiree who lives nearby, said Yorkshire Water had failed to keep local residents and stakeholders notified of the dangers or developments arising from the incident.

Mr Thornborough, who was formerly world head of crisis and emergency management for oil companies including BP and Petronas, said:

“This is a textbook example of how not to respond to an emergency.

“I would grade this as a Category 2 incident according to the Environment Agency’s rating system – meaning it’s significant – and yet there’s been no joined-up response. There’s been no information shared.”

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“We have informed the Environment Agency of the situation, as required by law, but there is no mechanism in place for informing anyone else. That said, we will be in touch with the RPA.

“If there was major pollution we would of course be in contact with them anyway, but this was minor, and the impact minimal.”

Repair work on the pipe was expected before the weekend to last for a couple of weeks, but can now only resume once flood water levels have dropped enough to enable workers to access the site again.

‘Nidd plagued by foul sewage’

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more: