£1.6m project to reduce discharges to Fagley Beck planned in Ravenscliffe

Yorkshire Water is investing £1.6m to reduce storm discharges into Fagley Beck as it continues to improve water quality in the region. 

The project, in Ravenscliffe, Bradford, will include the construction of 280m3 of new underground storage. The storage will hold excess wastewater flows that come through the sewer network during periods of prolonged or heavy rainfall, reducing the frequency of discharges into the beck. 

Yorkshire Water will also be lining sections of the sewer in the area to prevent infiltration of surface water and groundwater into the network, as well as repairing 3m of sewer where damage has been identified. 

Work is due to start on 8 July and will be carried out Mott MacDonald Bentley. It is expected to be completed in early 2025. 

Once completed, the additional storage, lining and repair work are expected to reduce discharges from Ravenscliffe storm overflow into Fagley Beck by 83%. 

Omair Khan, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are determined to play our part to improve water quality in Yorkshire’s rivers and seas. By building additional storage into the sewer network at Ravenscliffe we will be able to slow the flow of wastewater during rainfall events, reducing the frequency and duration of storm overflows to Fagley Beck. 

“This project is one small part of a wider £180m investment throughout the region by April 2025 to begin reducing discharges. In the longer-term, we have submitted plans to Ofwat outlining a £1bn investment to further reduce discharges between 2025 and 2030, which will include further work in the Bradford area.” 

Yorkshire Water’s £180m overflow reduction programme is part of a £797m infrastructure investment throughout this financial year.