Yorkshire Water has begun one of three storm overflow projects which will take place in Horsforth over the next three years, as part of its £1.5 billion investment in reducing the number of discharges across the region.

South West Water is progressing work on its Turning the Tide programme to reduce storm overflows - the water company will begin work this autumn on a major project in Falmouth to improve the town’s sewage network, reduce the use of storm overflows and protect the quality of its bathing waters.

South West Water reduced storm overflow spills by 97% last year at one of its highest spilling sites in Cornwall as it continues to drive improvements in spill numbers across the region.

Yorkshire Water has announced plans to invest in the region of £60 million at its wastewater treatment works and storm overflows in Ilkley to reduce storm discharges to the river Wharfe, improving water quality at the designated bathing water in the town. 

Wessex Water is using the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is to help monitor its sewer network and protect waterways across the region.

Wessex Water is trialling smaller-scale versions of wetlands in Wiltshire to help expand natural methods to protect some of the waterways near the city of Salisbury.

All WaSCs (water & sewage companies) are under increasing scrutiny relating to unauthorised discharges to watercourses. The task they now face is an eye watering number of stormwater overflows that need addressing in the coming years.

Water companies are currently facing unprecedented levels of criticism and scrutiny, particularly on issues surrounding wastewater treatment and sewage discharges from storm water overflows. The supply chain has a key role to play in helping them to deliver a sustained and consistent operational performance with partnership and collaboration increasingly seen as the best way forward to achieving their goals.