Yorkshire Water investment kicks off new £70 mill environmental programme
8 Jan 2019
Yorkshire Water is investing nearly £8 million in improving two wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) as part of an overall £70 million spend on environmental improvements within the county.
Some £5.2 million will be used to improve the quality of water returned from the Thirsk site, with a further £2.5 million earmarked for Bedale WwTW.
The work forms a substantial part of the multimillion pound investment to satisfy new targets on phosphorus removal for nearly 200km of water courses in Yorkshire.
Though beneficial to plant life, the nutrient can prompt excess algae growth leading to depletion of oxygen in water supplies.
Work on the Thirsk and Bedale sites will directly impact the Cod Beck and Bedale Beck water courses. A total of 16 Yorkshire Water area courses will be targeted through the £70 million investment.
Among the improvements already underway is the laying of a new sewer pipe from Bagby to Thirsk works, in order to benefit the water returned to Cod Beck after the neighbouring Bagby WwTW is decommissioned.
Yorkshire Water communications advisor Mark Allsop commented: “We’re committed to doing everything we can to improve our local environment and by completing this work we’ll exceed our target to reduce phosphorus and ensure the water we return to the environment is of the highest quality and deliver significant environmental benefits, and in particular to aquatic life.”
