Work has begun at Yorkshire Water’s Ben Rhydding wastewater treatment works to reduce the number of discharges into the river Wharfe, helping to improve water quality.

The work will include lining of 2.8km of sewer upstream of the site. Once completed, the lining will reduce infiltration of groundwater into the combined sewer network, significantly reducing the flows of stormwater to the treatment work during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

The £900,000 project is being carried out by Mott MacDonald Bentley and modelling indicated the project will cutting the frequency of discharges to the river Wharfe by approximately 15%.

It is expected to be completed in August and will include work on Cragg Drive, Ben Rhydding Drive, Brighton Road, Undercliffe Rise, Constable Road, Ben Rhydding Road, Lower Constable Road, Clifton Road, Connaught Road and Manly Road.

Omair Khan, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving water quality in Yorkshire rivers. This project is part of a £180m scheme we are delivering by April 2025 to reduce overflows to our rivers and coastline.

“Work has now begun, and our contract partners will be working for the next three months to deliver the improvements to the sewer network. While the lining of the sewers is taking place, we will be working hard to reduce disruption as much as possible and have already informed customers directly impacted by the work.

“As well as this project at Ben Rhydding, we will also be investing in our overflow on Wyvil Crescent in Ilkley in the coming months. These projects follow the construction of a new sewer under the A65 and additional work planned at Ilkley wastewater treatment works to build a new wetland, all of which is designed to reduce overflows into the watercourse.”

Yorkshire Water recently launched an interactive map that provides near real-time data on the current status of storm overflows across Yorkshire.