Yorkshire Water Admits Sewage Scheme Falls Short of Goals

Yorkshire Water has acknowledged that a significant investment intended to curb sewage discharges into a North Yorkshire river has not met its intended targets. The company had announced a £1.5 million scheme in 2024 for the River Ure in Ripon, stating it would reduce storm overflow discharges by approximately 75%.

However, data shows that the number of recorded discharges from the Clock Tower combined sewer overflow (CSO) near the Ripon by-pass bridge decreased from 75 in 2021 to 43 in 2025, representing a reduction of about 43%. Yorkshire Water has described this outcome as "disappointing."

A spokesperson for the water company noted that direct year-over-year comparisons can be complicated by varying rainfall levels. "[2025] was a particularly dry year, which will have further contributed to a decrease in discharges," the spokesperson said. "As such, whilst there has been a reduction, the scheme did not perform as expected, which is disappointing."

Combined sewer overflows are safety features in sewer networks that handle both wastewater and rainwater. During periods of heavy rainfall, they can release contents into local watercourses to prevent sewage from backing up into homes, businesses, and streets. These discharges are permitted by the Environment Agency under specific circumstances.