Yorkshire Water investing £8-9m in South Yorkshire wastewater treatment works

Yorkshire Water is investing a total of £8.9m across its Ingbirchworth and Hoylandswaine wastewater treatment sites in South Yorkshire to improve water quality in both the river Don, and Banks Bottom Dike.

The two projects, both delivered by BarhaleEnpure, will focus on reducing the amount of Phosphorus present in the wastewater returned to the river environment after treatment.

£2.4m will be invested at Ingbirchworth for the introduction of single point ferric dosing, a type of chemical dosing for wastewater treatment, to improve water quality along 6km of the river Don. Work will begin in July, and the project will be finalised in December.

Hoylandswaine will see £6.5m of the total investment, with the introduction of dual point ferric dosing (a type of chemical dosing with an additional dosing point), a new unit which will remove any remaining solids after the clarification process, and a new substation all part of the plans. The works will reduce the Phosphorous levels in treated wastewater being discharged into Banks Bottom Dike, affecting 3.7km of the watercourse. Work will begin in July, and complete in summer 2025.

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.

Joe Summers, project manager at Yorkshire Water said; “It’s important that we keep looking at ways in which we can better take care of our environment, and we know that it matters to our customers too. Reducing the Phosphorus levels in our treated wastewater is one way in which we can improve the health of our rivers.”

These projects are a significant part of a £500m investment by 2025 in Phosphorus removal throughout Yorkshire under the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).