Agenda item

Presentation by a representative of Yorkshire Water about the management of Yorkshire Water’s combined sewer overflows and Nidd assets.

Considered:  A presentation by Sarah Robinson Corporate Affairs Advisor at Yorkshire water who delivered a presentation on the River Nidd Investment and YWs assets along the river Nidd and plans to improve the river health with a focus on the environment and public use of the water for activities such as swimming. The  presentation was followed by questions from the Members:

Cllr Haslam requested that the notes from the discussion be forwarded to Yorkshire Water so that Members points could be followed up, this was agreed. The following points were raised:

·     The actions taken by YW to prevent water getting into the system

·     The indicators of volume of water such as KPI’s

·     Where there is/has been an overflow the potential for warning signs to be erected

·     liaison with developers about preventive measures such as water butts on new housing

·     Bilton Beck measures

SR confirmed that Yorkshire Water were undertaking a lot of work and looking at prevention i.e. preventing or slowing water from reaching the river during a downpour, one of the most effective ways was to install underground tanks. They were a statutory consultee on planning applications but was unable to compel development companies to take action such as putting water butts on every new home, it was currently investigating permeable paving in the Hull and Doncaster areas.

·       Cllr Walker asked how biodiversity and environmental impact were included within cost/benefit analysis

·       Cllr Gostlow – Suggested that the Committee receive regular updates on sewerage discharges and full update on improvements from YW. The following points were also raised:

·     What is the surge capacity of the network given the amount of development around the district

·     Is there a tipping point for the river Nidd?

·     What technology improvements and mitigations have been explored?

·     Is there an environmental fund within YW to utilise?

·     What are the flooding and tourist implications?

·     How long after an overflow is river water safe?

·     The Committee to attend a site visit to Bilton Treatment Works

SR confirmed that YW were taking steps to improve water quality such as using UV to lessen or eradicate chemicals. Many issues were outside of YWs remit such as plastic in the water – different issues were the responsibility of different organisations – if there was flooding from a burst bank this was the Environment Agencies responsibility but if it was a full road gully then it became the responsibility of the local Council. It was recognised that capacity was a joint responsibility between all agencies and SR would take back the comments made at the meeting.

·       The £180M that YW had been granted for improvements was still subject to approval/allocation and was  part of an intensive cost-benefit analysis

·       Sarah confirmed that YW were working in partnership with Nidderdale AONB through Beyond Nature and through this Farmers in Nidderdale were being offered incentives to take up greener farming methods

·       The ‘near live’ monitoring system, planned for rollout in April 2024, meant people would be able to check whether there had been a discharge within an hour of the event – the alerts would remain on the website for 48 hours enabling members of the public enough time to check before going to the river

·       YW considered certain areas ‘high priority’ this was a government designation and related to areas where there was likely to be a high degree of environmental impact

·       YW had not paid dividends to its shareholders for the last seven years and would not be paying any during the rollout of AMP4 – it was anticipated this would continue for a few years after that as well

·       SR agreed to take back the points and questions raised at the meeting

The Chair thanked SR for the presentation and attendance at the meeting

Resolved –

That the report on the Yorkshire Water CSO Management Plan in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area be noted.