Yorkshire Water has begun £10 million upgrades to a wastewater treatment site in Dronfield to remove phosphorus from treated effluent and improve water quality in the river Drone.
During the current asset management period (AMP7) the company will lower phosphorus levels by 56% from treated effluent. The £500 million scheme targets improvements at 80 sites across the region to enhance rivers.
So far during AMP7, Yorkshire has invested £11.5 million upgrading four sewage plants as part of its Water industry national environment programme (WINEP).
“We’re committed to reducing phosphorus concentrations being returned to the environment from our wastewater treatment works,” senior project manager Joe Fisher said.
“This scheme at Dronfield will make a difference to water quality in the Drone and ensure our site meets our WINEP targets.”
The scheme is expected to last until December 2024 to bring phosphorous concentration levels within acceptable ranges.
By 2025, the company aims to have improved 640 km of rivers in Yorkshire.
For AMP8, the company will more than double its spend from £921 million to £1.8 billion in PR24.
The company’s environmental investment plans for the next period total £4.3 billion, including £1.9 billion to reduce the use of storm overflows and £1.8 billion to maintain and improve wastewater collection and treatment.