Yorkshire Water is investing £406 million over five years to replace more than 1,000km of ageing water mains across the region. The project, the company’s largest infrastructure upgrade in two decades, will install durable plastic pipes to reduce leaks, supply disruptions, and bursts.
In the first year, £89 million will be spent replacing 238km of mains, with 211km scheduled for the second year. Priority areas include Kiveton Park, York, Sheffield, Sowerby Bridge, Harrogate, and Stannington, prone to frequent supply issues. Work will extend across Yorkshire, from South Yorkshire and the East Coast to North Lincolnshire, with York and North Yorkshire set to receive 43km and 90km of new mains by March 2026.
Yorkshire Water is coordinating with local authorities and utility providers to minimise disruption, using trenchless technology to avoid major roadworks. The initiative is part of the company’s broader £8.3 billion environmental investment, which includes £1.5 billion to reduce storm overflows, £360 million to prevent nutrient pollution, and £327 million for smart meter installations.
