Yorkshire Water is getting ready to start work in Ilkley to lay a new sewer under the A65 to help reduce the frequency and volume of storm discharges into the river Wharfe during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Image: River Wharfe
The water company’s partner Ward and Burke are starting work today to set up site working areas ahead of construction. Trenchless technology will be used with underground boring machinery controlled remotely throughout the project to keep disruption to a minimum while laying 800m of new sewer under the A65 to the Sewage Treatment Works.
The sewer will operate as additional storage during periods of heavy rainfall or prolonged rainfall to reduce the frequency of discharges from Rivadale storm overflow by 40% and halve the volume of wastewater discharged during those events.
Using trenchless technology reduces the need to close the road as it lays pipework behind it and sends the earth back to the staging site where it is cleaned and recycled for use in other projects in the area.
The initial stage of the work will include laying the sewer between Yorkshire Water’s Ilkley wastewater treatment works and Ashlands playing fields. The second stage of the project is to lay the sewer under the A65. Remote-controlled tunnelling equipment will be used at depths of 5-8 metres below the ground, to bore the hole for the new sewer.
Ben Roche, director of wastewater at Yorkshire Water, said:
“This project forms a major part of our investment in Ilkley following the creation of an inland bathing water on the Wharfe in the town. Laying a new sewer to accommodate higher flows of wastewater during periods of heavy and prolonged rainfall will ultimately reduce the number and volume of discharges from Rivadale CSO, helping to improve water quality in the Wharfe.
“We completely understand the increased public interest in river quality in our region and it’s an issue that must be addressed by a range of agencies working together. We continue to invest over and above existing investment plans in Ilkley and the surrounding area to make improvements on our network to reduce its impact on water quality. Water companies have a key role to play, but coordinated action is needed by farmers, the local authority, businesses and local people with the ultimate aim of improving the bathing water classification.”
The project is expected to be completed in January 2024.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report, alongside new legislation and updated national standards, marks a major turning point in the wider adoption of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) by water companies and developers, according to Alex Stephenson, director, SuDSPlanter.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.