Sewer works to cut discharges into river

Work has begun on improvements to the sewer network to reduce discharges into a river during heavy rainfall.

Yorkshire Water said the £1.03m scheme at Lower Hawsker, near Whitby, would cut overflows into Stainsacre Beck, a tributary of the River Esk.

Construction plans include laying a new storage sewer on Hall Farm Road with work expected to last 16 weeks.

The firm said it was part of its two-year £180m investment to reduce discharges from storm overflows into local rivers and water courses.

Omair Khan, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said the work would reduce the frequency and duration of discharges from the Hawsker combined sewer overflow into Stainsacre Beck.

The work would involve the closure of part of Hall Farm Road.

“We appreciate that partial road closures are inconvenient, and we thank local residents and businesses in the area for their patience," Mr Khan said.

He said the work was the latest in a series of investments in reducing storm overflows along the Yorkshire coastline, including £1.3m at Whitby Esplanade, £310k to remove river water inundation and infiltration from the combined sewer network in Ruswarp and £870k for a surface water separation and relining project at Ravenscar.

The company has also submitted plans to regulator Ofwat for a further £165m investment to allow more improvements along the coast over the next five years.

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