Between 2007 and 2011 Yorkshire Water was forced to close its Tophill water treatment works for 106 days due to nitrate concentrations exceeding the daily regulatory limit of 50mg/l.
The new nitrate removal plant will prevent this limit being exceeding in the future and the need for the plant to be closed as often.
Alongside the new treatment facility, Yorkshire Water has also launched a project to encourage farmers to use alternatives to nitrate-based fertilisers, which have polluted the groundwater supplies.
It is hoped that promoting Catchment Sensitive Farming will encourage farmers to find alternatives to the artificial fertilisers and reduce the amount of nitrates that infiltrate water supplies.
Yorkshire Water catchment strategy manager Andrew Walker said: “Our new nitrate removal plant will ensure that nitrate concentration levels are reduced and drinking water quality is improved.
“In addition, we are taking a longer-term approach that involves actively engaging with local farmers to identify sustainable alternatives to nitrate-based fertilisers.
“This will help to reduce the amount of water becoming contaminated in the first place and decrease the onus having to expensively treat it in years to come.”