Yorkshire Water is investing £40m in its Blackburn Meadows wastewater treatment works, as part of its ongoing commitment to improve river water quality.
The project, which is being delivered by Glanua, will focus on removing the amount of phosphorus in the treated wastewater that is returned to the river after treatment.
Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage, entering the sewer system via domestic showers and washing machines due to products such as shampoo and liquid detergent containing it.
The work will be completed by December 2024. To enable the construction on the site the operations of Blackburn Meadows, which takes wastewater from Sheffield and the surrounding areas, will be diverted to Jordans Dam. Yorkshire Water has liaised with the Environment Agency in the planning of this work.
Rachael Fox, head of programme delivery at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving water quality in the rivers across our region. One of the key focuses is the reduction of phosphorus entering rivers in the treated wastewater we safely return to the environment. Reducing phosphorus levels can make a real difference to water quality in our rivers.
“This project is a significant part of a £790m investment by 2025 in Phosphorus removal. Blackburn Meadows is one of our largest wastewater treatment works. The upgrade of the site will significantly reduce the Phosphorus levels in the Don, benefiting the watercourse and the wildlife in it.”
