Yorkshire Water has donated £400,000 in civil sanctions after sewage from two pumping stations polluted becks across the region.

Investigations by the Environment Agency found the Bradford-based company breached its environmental permit with an unauthorised sewage discharge from Bellhouse Way Sewage Pumping Station in 2018.

Holgate Beck in York was polluted after the sewage was leaked intermittently due to an electrical failure in the main pump and blockage of the standby pump.

There were unauthorised discharges in 2020 from a rising main at Hemsworth Water Park, Hoyle Mill Lane Sewage Pumping Station.

Hoyle Mill Stream, Wakefield, was visibly polluted for 2.75km, affecting water quality.

A failed repair saw more raw sewage discharged, caused by a severely corroded pipe which could not sustain the pressure.

The organisation has donated the funds to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as part of an enforcement undertaking, a voluntary offer to make amends alongside required improvements.

It will fund projects at Askham Bog, River Foss and Living Went.

The Environment Agency’s Martin Christmas said: “We are holding water companies to account like never before and while we will always take forward prosecutions in serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool.

“Yorkshire Water has made significant improvements to its monitoring system and completed repairs.”

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