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Mar 2024

Environment

Tanker operation raises sewage concerns on River Ure

Published: 15 Mar 2024, 17:34 GMT

by Flora Grafton

A three-week tanker operation on the River Ure near Boroughbridge has raised concerns about how well a treatment plant can cope with sewage.

Boorughbridge resident Caroline Slater contacted the Stray Ferret saying she had noticed a "raw sewage" smell when walking her dog near the river.

She attributed the smell, which she believes is due to excess sewage flowing from a wastewater treatment plant in Aldborough into the river, to recent periods of heavy rainfall, as well as "the large number of new houses built in the area".

Ms Slater said:

“The pumping station at Boroughbridge sewage works cannot cope with the amount of sewage.

"The Ure is really polluted. Sometimes there are huge banks of foam which do not dissipate, greasy films and a smell of sewage.

“I have witnessed contractors cleaning up the riverbank areas after floods and using the river as a dumping ground for waste.

"It was really smelly down there on Saturday when there was no pumping going on. It just smelt like raw sewage."

Ms Slater also said “tankers have been pumping sewage out from Aldborough road for the past three weeks — maybe more — and taking it away”.

She added:

“I have contacted Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency. I really am despairing. I would ideally like to get some momentum going to try to clean up the River Ure.

“Young people bathe in it at the salmon ladders in the summer, also at Ripon and Masham, further up and downstream. It isn’t safe. Nature is suffering. Nobody seems to be accountable.

"I am also extremely concerned about the continuation of house building in the area and what effect this will have on infrastructure that cannot cope. "

Town council also 'doubts' treatment plan can cope

The Stray Ferret contacted Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge and Claro on North Yorkshire Council, about the matter.

Cllr Windass said Boroughbridge Town Council shared Ms Slater's concerns.

He added:

"I am aware that tankers are pumping out sewage from the Aldborough treatment plant and taking it to other plants. This happens when the River Ure is in flood as it has been for the past few weeks with all the rain we have had.

"Certainly, the town council and many residents have expressed concern about whether the Aldborough treatment plant can cope with the increased sewage because of the number of new homes built in and around Boroughbridge. They always say that it can but when situations like this occur, we have our doubts.

"Personally, I have not been downstream of the treatment plant recently, but I will make a point of doing so in the next few days."

Yorkshire Water's response

The Stray Ferret put Ms Slater’s concerns to Yorkshire Water and asked for confirmation on whether excess sewage is being released into the River Ure.

A spokesperson said "diluted wastewater from storm overflow" is released into the river during periods of heavy rainfall. If more rainwater is pumped into the treatment works than it is designed to handle, an excess is released into nearby rivers.

The spokesperson added:

"The storm overflow at Boroughbridge wastewater treatment works is in operation currently due to the amount of rainfall in the area recently and possible groundwater infiltration into the sewer network.

"Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency and act as a relief valve during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall to prevent wastewater backing up and flooding homes and businesses."

Yorkshire Water said the tankers were in place due to groundwater potentially infiltrating a sewer. The firm said this was also as a result of heavy rainfall and could result in wastewater escaping the network from manholes if left unmanaged.

The spokesperson added:

"Our teams are currently tankering in the area to relieve pressure on the sewer network and will be carrying out a thorough investigation of the network in the coming days to identify any possible sources of infiltration."

The firm added the tanker was also removing some wastewater, groundwater and sewage flow from within the network and taking it to the treatment works. It said this was "taking the pressure off the sewers to prevent pollutions".

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Tanker operation raises sewage concerns on River Ure

Town council also 'doubts' treatment plan can cope

Yorkshire Water's response

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