YORKSHIRE Water is investing £2.3m in a storm overflow in Bingley, to reduce discharges to Loadpit Beck, a tributary of the River Aire.

The water company is working with contract partners Sapphire Utilities Solutions and One Bore to construct new underground storage.

A 10-metre deep, 348-metre³ tank will be built in fields near Gilstead Lane and Sheriff Lane to hold wastewater during heavy rain, reducing the need for discharges.

Once rainfall has passed, the stored wastewater will be transferred back to the network via pumps for final treatment.

This will also improve the water quality in the local watercourse.

The project is expected to reduce discharges by 44 per cent once completed.

Jamel Goodall, asset planning sponsor at Yorkshire Water, said: "We're pleased to have started work on the construction of the additional storage required in our sewer network in Bingley to reduce discharges from our Gilstead Lane 128 overflow.

"We know discharges from storm overflows are a key issue for our customers and we’re determined to reduce their operation across Yorkshire.

"This project in Bingley is a small part of a £180m investment across Yorkshire by April 2025 to tackle the issue and improve water quality in our rivers."

The project is expected to be completed in early 2025.