£19.5m investment around Keighley underway

Yorkshire Water is investing £19.5m near Keighley, West Yorkshire, in two schemes set to improve the water quality in the river Aire, alongside the resilience of the clean water network. 

Marley wastewater treatment works is undergoing an £18m upgrade set to reduce the amount Phosphorus in the wastewater returned to the river Aire post treatment - improving the water quality of over 6.5km of the watercourse downstream of the works.  

Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage, entering the sewer system via domestic showers and washing machines due to products such as shampoo and liquid detergent containing Phosphorus. It can also wash off from agricultural fields after the use of fertilisers and be dissolved from soil which can be difficult to control. 

While a small amount of Phosphorus is harmless and is an essential part of many ecosystems, it can become damaging to human and animal life when unmanaged. 

Contract partner Galliford Try is entering phase two of the project at Marley, which is a significant part of a £500m investment in Phosphorus reduction throughout Yorkshire, and work is expected to complete in early 2025. Phase one is being completed by Kier. 

David Hobman, lead project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “These are important projects for the Keighley area and the Aire and Calder catchment, and we’re pleased to be making progress on each of them.  

“It’s essential that we look after our rivers and help them to thrive – these works, which make up part of our wider investment in Phosphorous reduction across Yorkshire, will have a positive impact on the river Aire.” 

Ponden Water Pumping Station, part of the clean water network, wil receive a £1.5m upgrade, subject to planning permissions. 

Contract partners Barhale Enpure will be completing the refurbishment at the pumping station, which pumps raw water from Ponden reservoir to Oldfield Water Treatment Works for treatment. The works will enable the Oldfield site to take more water from Ponden reservoir to improve the resilience of the network.  

Works will include the installation of two new pumps and upgraded power units and controls. 

David added: “We are investing heavily across the region to ensure that we continue to deliver secure, safe drinking water now and in the future. Our planned work at Ponden Water Pumping Station is vital to ensuring the resilience of our network in this area.”