Work begins to reduce storm discharges from Scalby Mills overflow

Yorkshire Water has started work to reduce discharges from a storm overflow at Scalby Mills, near Scarborough, as it continues its work to improve bathing water quality in the town.

The £2.6m project will include the construction of a new 572m3 storage tank and 8.2-metre diameter segmental shaft, approximately 16 metres in depth at Yorkshire Water’s pumping station off Burniston Road to hold excess wastewater flows during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. A new section of sewer and rising main will also be constructed to transport the excess wastewater for treatment once the rainfall has passed.

Increasing storage in the network at Scalby Mills will slow the flow of rainfall and wastewater during heavy or prolonged rainfall events. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the number of discharges into Scalby Beck by more than 80%.

Omair Khan, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are determined to play our part to improve bathing water quality at Scarborough and along the entire Yorkshire coast. This project will significantly reduce discharges from our Whitby Road Bridge overflow at Scalby Mills.

“We’ve worked closely with North Yorkshire council throughout our planning of this project and to ensure the work can be carried out safely, a public foot path that runs alongside the pumping station will be closed. A signed diversion route will be in place and we apologise for any inconvenience.”

“The project is part of a £180m investment across Yorkshire to reduce discharges into the region’s watercourses by April 2025. Beyond that, we are already planning our largest ever environmental investment between 2025 and 2030, which includes £1bn to further reduce the impact of overflows on our watercourses.”

The work, which is being carried out by Morrison Water Services, is expected to be completed in early 2025.

The work at Whitby Road Bridge follows work starting on a £2m investment at Wheatcroft and a £870,000 project at Ravenscar to reduce the operation of storm overflows along the Yorkshire Coast. Further projects are planned later this year at Ruswarp, Whitby, and Hawsker.