Yorkshire Water has begun a £2.5m storm overflow project in York to reduce discharges into nearby watercourses.
The Poppleton Road North programme will have a tank installed which will be able to hold about 250,000 litres of stormwater. Once completed, the project will reduce discharges to the River Ouse from Poppleton Road North CSO from 86% to fewer than 10% per year.
It is the second overflow project in the city, following the beginning of a scheme at the York Landing Lane combined sewer overflow (CSO).
Sam Pashley, Project Manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our storm overflows are operating more than we, and our customers, would like and we’re committed to reducing the number of discharges taking place.
“We’re on track with our York programme – making great progress at Landing Lane, and getting started on Poppleton Road. These are both long-term projects, but once they’re complete, they’ll have a significant impact on the health of the Ouse.”
The additional capacity will hold back rain and wastewater during periods of bad weather, preventing it from being discharged. Flows will be sent for treatment when capacity in the network has returned to normal levels.
The storm overflow project is part of Yorkshire Water’s £8.3bn investment into its services and the environment over the next five years as the company is currently planning several further storm overflow projects in the York area.
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