Water firm invests £11m to cut phosphorous levels

The work aims to reduce the levels of phosphorus in the river Don

A water firm has said an £11m investment will cut the levels of phosphorous being discharged into a river in South Yorkshire.

Work at the Bentley Water Treatment Works, near Doncaster, will begin on 24 June and will see 8,202 ft (2.5km) of new piping installed to divert storm water and treated effluent from Bentley Mill Stream.

Yorkshire Water said the work would improve the quality of water flowing into the river Don from smaller watercourses.

The footpath on Bentley Common Lane, from the junction with Mill Gate, will be closed for six months so that the work can be carried out safely, the firm added.

Rich Tomlinson, project manager, said phosphorous was a "normal part of domestic wastewater" from products such as shampoo and liquid detergents.

He said the work at Bentley was part of a £500m water industry national environment programme to "reduce phosphorus at 80 of our wastewater treatment sites and improve water quality".

Mr Tomlinson said it was one of a number of similar schemes to help improve the water quality in the Don.

“The quality of water in our local rivers is incredibly important to us, our customers and the environment.

“We are working hard to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the watercourse and in doing so, help to improve the health and quality of our rivers.”

Yorkshire Water has previously invested £2m to tackle sewage overflows elsewhere in Yorkshire.

Earlier this month, it said it would build nearly 300 cubic metres of additional storage in the sewer network on the River Dearne near Barugh Green, in Barnsley.

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