Yorkshire Water plans more Wharfe bathing river work

Yorkshire Water is seeking approval for a further £60m investment to improve water quality at the country’s first inland bathing site, on the River Wharfe at Ilkley.

The project, which is subject to regulator and local authority planning agreement, will feature: 

• Increased storage at storm overflows within 5km upstream of the bathing water. 

• Additional upgrades including 15,000m³ of storage and a new 4,000m² aerated rush bed within the grounds of Ilkley treatment works to more than double its wastewater treatment capacity.

• A new tunnel under the River Wharfe to transport treated wastewater to a new 19,000m² integrated constructed wetland (ICW) across the river from the existing treatment works.
  

Yorkshire said the work will reduce discharges from each storm overflow within 5km upstream of the bathing water and Ilkley wastewater treatment works to one discharge to the River Wharfe per bathing water season, and no more than ten discharges per year on average.

Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water, said: “Once upgrades to the network are completed, the treatment works and our new wetland, which will be completed in 2026, will meet Government targets of one discharge per bathing water season nine years ahead of the 2035 deadline.”