Yorkshire Water has announced a £40 million upgrade of one of its wastewater treatment works in a bid to reduce the amount of phosphorus present in treated wastewater.
The project, which is being delivered by Glanua, will improve the company’s Blackburn Meadows site located in between Sheffield and Rotherham.
Phosphorus is contained within products such as shampoo and liquid detergent and therefore enters the sewer system via domestic showers and washing machines.
Yorkshire Water said the work on the Blackburn Meadows site will be completed by December next year. It added that to enable construction, the operations of the site will be temporarily altered to divert treated effluent to an alternative location at nearby Jordans Dam.
The company said that it has liaised with the Environment Agency in the planning of the work.
Rachael Fox, head of programme delivery at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving water quality in the rivers across our region. One of the key focuses is the reduction of phosphorus entering rivers in the treated wastewater we safely return to the environment. Reducing phosphorus levels can make a real difference to water quality in our rivers.
“This project is a significant part of a £790 million investment by 2025 in phosphorus removal. Blackburn Meadows is one of our largest wastewater treatment works and handles wastewater from Sheffield and surrounding areas. The upgrade of the site will significantly reduce the phosphorus levels in the Don, benefiting the watercourse and the wildlife within.”