Yorkshire Water is investing £2.4 million to reduce discharges into Cottingley Beck from the Manor Drive storm overflow, as it continues to improve water quality in the region’s watercourses.

Work to construct a 327m3 storage tank and rising main is underway and is expected to be completed in December.

The new storage will hold excess wastewater and rainfall during heavy or prolonged rainfall events. Pumps will then return the storm water to the sewer network for full treatment, rather than it being discharged into the watercourse.

The project is expected to reduce discharges from Manor Drive storm overflow into Cottingley Beck by 46%.

Martin Ineson, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We are committed to reducing the impact of our network on Yorkshire’s watercourses, as we know it is important to our customers. A key element of that commitment is to cut discharges from storm overflows and this project is just one part of a £180m investment across the region to reduce discharges from our most frequently operating overflows.

“By increasing storage in the network we’re able to slow the flow of wastewater and rainfall through the sewers during periods of prolonged or heavy rainfall. As a result, this can be held retuned to the network for full treatment once the rainfall has passed, cutting the frequency and duration of discharges from the overflow.”