Ilkley: Yorkshire Water unveils £60m River Wharfe investment

Yorkshire Water has announced further investment to improve the water quality in Ilkley

Yorkshire Water has announced plans to invest up to £60m to reduce waste discharged into the River Wharfe.

The scheme is one of the firm's latest funding announcements in the Ilkley area and aims to improve water quality at the town's designated bathing site.

Plans include increased and upgraded storage at storm overflows and a tunnel under the river to transport treated wastewater to a new wetland.

Yorkshire Water said work could begin this summer, pending approval.

According to the firm, the plans would increase storage at storm overflows up to three miles (5km) upstream of the bathing water and more than double waste water treatment capacity.

Yorkshire Water's CEO Nicola Shaw said: "If approved, this project will take our total investment in infrastructure in the area to more than £75m and will be a step change in how we manage waste water in Ilkley.

"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."

Yorkshire Water is also planning to install 150 leaky water butts in the gardens of properties in selected areas of Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Addingham as part of its smart networks project.

The firm also recently built a new 2,739 ft (835m) long sewer for Ilkley, costing £15m and has invested £1.4m in Ben Rhydding waste water treatment works and Wyvil Crescent storm overflow to reduce discharges to the Wharfe.