Investment continues into 2025 to improve river quality in Sheffield

Yorkshire Water is investing £2.6m to reduce storm overflows going into tributaries of Shire Brook as its capital infrastructure programme to improve the region’s waterways continues into 2025.

Work is due to start on site at the beginning of the new year, when contract partners Galliford Try, begin the project to install a new surface water sewer on a 0.6ha area adjacent to Alport Road Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), Frecheville, Sheffield. 

The new 910m surface water sewer and 23 new manholes will direct rainfall from nearby properties and highways into the watercourse, rather than combining it with wastewater in the combined sewer, reducing the frequency and duration of discharges from the storm overflow.

The project includes a number of upgrades to improve performance of the existing Alport Road overflow. Once completed, the project will result in a 40% reduction of storm discharges going into tributaries of Shire Brook following bouts of prolonged or heavy rainfall.

Martin Ineson, project manager, Yorkshire Water, said: “This is one project in a £180m investment project to reduce discharges from storm overflows by the end of April 2025.

“It is one of a number of similar storm discharge reductions schemes in the area including, £1m investment at Oaks Farm Lane, £3m investment at Avenue Farm and £1.1m invested at Oakfield Avenue. All of the schemes are part of Yorkshire Water’s commitment to improving the region’s water courses and reduce storm overflows during prolonged and heavy rain.”