Yorkshire Water is investing £835k at a storm overflow in Marton, near Pickering, to reduce the number of discharges into the river Seven, improving the health of the watercourse.
The utility will be separating and diverting surface water from residential properties away from the combined network by installing approximately 200 metres of new surface water pipework.
By reducing the volume of surface water in the wastewater network, flows will be reduced – particularly during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. The likelihood of the storm overflow operating as a result is expected to decrease by 10 – 15%.
Parts of the wastewater sewer will also be lined, to reduce the impact of surface water infiltration into the network.
Contract partners Peter Duffy Ltd are expected to complete the work in March.
In addition to the work on the sewer network, Yorkshire Water is planning to install a number of water butts at nearby residential properties where separating surface water isn’t possible. Water butts hold rainfall, preventing it from entering the combined sewer system.
Lumi Ajayi, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said:
“We’re committed to reducing the impact of storm overflow discharges on the environment, and the project at Marton Bridge is part of a £180m investment project across Yorkshire by the end of April 2025 which aims to do so.”
Nearby, Yorkshire Water is underway with a £500k project in Kirkbymoorside to lay a new surface water sewer, reducing the duration and frequency of storm overflow discharges into the river Ouse.
The utility is also planning its largest ever environmental investment between 2025 and 2030, which includes £1.5bn to further reduce the impact of storm overflow discharges on the region’s watercourses.
