Sewer system upgrades aim to reduce river discharges

A project has commenced to enhance the sewer system, aiming to diminish the release of wastewater into a river during periods of intense precipitation. Yorkshire Water announced that this £1.03 million initiative, situated at Lower Hawsker, close to Whitby, is designed to decrease overflow events into Stainsacre Beck, which flows into the River Esk. The construction blueprint involves installing a new storage sewer along Hall Farm Road, with the undertaking projected to span 16 weeks. The company stated this forms a component of its £180 million, two-year investment strategy focused on mitigating discharges from storm overflows into regional rivers and waterways. Omair Khan, a project manager for Yorkshire Water, indicated that the initiative is expected to lessen both the regularity and length of discharges from the Hawsker combined sewer overflow into Stainsacre Beck. This operation will necessitate the temporary closure of a section of Hall Farm Road. “We appreciate that partial road closures are inconvenient, and we thank local residents and businesses in the area for their patience,” Mr Khan said. He further mentioned that this undertaking represents the most recent in a sequence of financial commitments aimed at curbing storm overflows across the Yorkshire coastline. These include a £1.3 million expenditure at Whitby Esplanade, £310,000 allocated to eliminate river water inundation and infiltration from the combined sewer network in Ruswarp, and £870,000 for a surface water separation and relining scheme at Ravenscar. Additionally, the company has presented proposals to the regulatory body Ofwat for an additional £165 million investment, intended to facilitate further enhancements along the coastal region over the forthcoming five years. Information regarding North Yorkshire is available on BBC Sounds, and the most recent installment of Look North can be viewed. Individuals are also invited to submit potential news stories. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Further details on the BBC’s approach to external linking are provided.