£2m project underway to reduce storm overflows into Huddersfield Broad Canal

Yorkshire Water has started a £2m project on Oak Road, Bradley to reduce storm overflows into the Huddersfield Broad Canal. 

The work, which is being carried out by Morrison Water Services, includes the construction of a new surface water sewer in the green space off Oak Road and along Bradley Road. Highways drains in the area will be disconnected from the combined sewer and redirected into the new sewer. The surface water sewer will also take rainfall from the roofs of properties nearby. 

The surface water and rainfall will flow through the new sewer and be discharged directly to the watercourse without being combined with wastewater. 

Limiting rainfall entering the combined sewer system will reduce the frequency and duration of discharges into the canal from the Oak Road storm overflow.  

The £2m project is expected to be completed in November and will reduce discharges into the Huddersfield Broad Canal by 61%.  

Omair Khan, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Constructing a new surface water sewer will reduce the amount of rainfall entering the combined sewer during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. As a result, our modelling indicates this will reduce the frequency and duration of overflows from our network into the nearby canal. 

“This project is just a small part of a £180m investment we’re making across the region by April 2025 to reduce storm overflows into Yorkshire’s watercourses. We have also submitted plans to Ofwat to invest more than £1bn to further reduce overflows across the region between 2025 and 2030.” 

"We have liaised with the local highways team during the planning of the project. To ensure the work can be carried out safely, a section of Oak Road from the junction of Bradley Road up to 43 Oak Road will be closed during the project. A signed diversion route via Leeds Road will be in place. Traffic islands will be removed to allow two lanes on Bradley Road to minimise disruption during the work and will be reinstated once complete. Additionally, some of the work will require traffic lights but we and our contract partners will be working quickly to keep disruption to a minimum. We appreciate our customers’ patience while we carry out this important work to improve water quality and the local environment.” 

Yorkshire Water has also launched an interactive map to show the operation of its storm overflows in near real-time.