Yorkshire Water is progressing its multi-million pound programme of works to tackle storm overflows to reduce discharges into local rivers and improve river water quality.

The water company is is investing £6.2 million across Doncaster to improve river quality and £2.8 million in two storm overflows at Rawcliffe and West Cowick, nr Goole this autumn to reduce the number of storm water discharges flowing into the river Aire.

Yorkshire Water is investing £6.2 million in four storm overflows in and around Doncaster (DN5, DN6) to reduce the number of storm water discharges into Mill Dike, Swan Sike Dike and tributaries of the Old River Dearne.

The four projects include:

• £3.6 million to construct a new 425m³ (12.5m diameter and 6.8m depth) underground storage tank at Woodlands Doncaster Road Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). The extra capacity of the new tank will create an 80% reduction of storm discharges flowing into Mill Dike.
• £1.6 million investment to upgrade pumps at the sewage station at Harlington Mill Lane CSO and construct a new rising main to reduce storm discharges flowing in the Old River Dearne by 40%
• £550k investment to install new valves and three manhole chambers, and line 123m of existing pipework at Station Road CSO in Norton. As part of the project, a number of rainwater planters will be installed at Norton Junior school to slow the flow of rainwater into the sewers. These improvements will create a 15% reduction in storm overflows into Swan Dike Drain.
• £530k investment to improve and upgrade Bentley Moor sewage pumping station to reduce infiltration of groundwater into the wastewater network and reduce storm discharges into the Well Strike Dike by 50%.

Morrisons Water Services (MWS) will carry out the work at Woodlands Doncaster Road, Harlington Mill Lane and Station Road, Norton. Peter Duffy Ltd (PDL) is due to start on site at Bentley Moor in late October.

The projects near Goole follow a £1 million investment in a storm overflow in Airmyn to reduce discharges into the river Aire during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

The projects include:

• £1.8 million of improvement work at Royal Oak Rawcliffe sewage pumping station. The upgrade includes the installation of new valves, pumps and a new rising main to improve the operational efficiency of the pumping station and is expected to reduce storm discharge into the river Aire by 20% from the overflow.
• £1 million investment at West Cowick sewage pumping station that includes the installation of new 130m3 of storage to hold rainfall and wastewater during wet weather events. Upon completion, it will reduce discharges into the river Aire from West Cowick sewage pumping station by 75%.

Contract partners Morrisons Water Services (MWS) and Sapphire Utility Solutions (SUS)will carry out work at Royal Oak Rawcliffe and West Cowick respectively.

Lumi Ajayi, project manager, commented:

“Increasing storage in our network is a key way we are reducing the frequency and intensity of storm overflows discharging into watercourses across the region.

“These four projects across the D5/D6 Doncaster area will help us to reduce the amount of rainfall entering the combined sewer network and safely store more wastewater during periods of extreme rainfall. On completion, the projects will significantly reduce the volume and frequency of storm overflows and improve water quality in watercourses in the area.

“The projects in Rawcliffe and West Cowick, nr Goole will help us to limit the amount of rainfall going into the combined sewer network and allow us to store more wastewater during periods of heavy rainfall, before returning it to the full treatment process, in a measured manner. The volume and number of discharges flowing into the river Aire will be significantly reduced on completion of these works, helping to improve water quality in the area. “

The projects are part of a £180 million investment by the end of April 2025 from Yorkshire Water to reduce discharges from storm overflows across the region.