£1-4m investment to reduce storm overflows into North Sea at Mappleton

Yorkshire Water is investing £1.4m at Mappleton, East Yorkshire to reduce the number of storm water discharges into the North Sea from an overflow in the village. 

Contractors Peter Duffy Limited will be working to separate surface water and wastewater in the area. By creating 654 metres of new surface water sewer, rainwater will go straight to the sea, rather than going through the sewer and combining with wastewater, reducing the need for discharges from the storm overflow. 

Surface water from road gullies and nearby properties will also be directed into the new surface water sewer. 

This work is expected to reduce discharges from the storm overflow adjacent to Main Road (B1242) by more than 20% and will be completed in early 2025. 

Lumi Ajayi, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to reducing storm overflow discharges across Yorkshire and are investing £180m by April 2025 to do so, improving water quality in our rivers and at our coast. This work at Mappleton will cut discharges from our network into the North Sea by reducing the amount of rainwater entering the network during heavy or prolonged rainfall events.” 

The project is part of a £180m investment project across Yorkshire by the end of April 2025 to reduce discharges from storm overflows.  

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's cabinet member for heritage and coastal, said: "It's great to see the commitment shown by Yorkshire Water through ongoing investment to continue improving the bathing water quality along our east coast beaches.

"This, coupled with further investment in the future, bodes well for the East Riding and our council's continued partnership working with Yorkshire Water. Thanks to the local residents in the Mappleton area for bearing with this project until it's completed."

Yorkshire Water is planning to invest a further £1bn to reduce the operation of storm overflows between 2025 and 2030.