Water firm to pay £40m over 'serious failures'
Yorkshire Water has been ordered to pay £40m to address its "serious failures" over wastewater and sewage.
An investigation by regulator Ofwat found that on average the firm discharged untreated wastewater into the region's rivers for seven hours a day in 2023, with almost half its storm overflows found to be in breach of regulations.
The cost of the enforcement package would not be passed on to Yorkshire Water's customers and instead it would be paid for by the company and its shareholders, Ofwat said.
Yorkshire Water apologised for its failings and said it had taken active steps to remedy the issues, but chief executive Nicola Shaw said there was "still more for us to do".
Ofwat's investigation, which began in 2021, found the firm had failed to adequately invest in and maintain its networks.
In its conclusion published on Thursday, it said Yorkshire Water had significantly breached its legal obligations, which had caused an "unacceptable impact" on the environment and customers.
Ofwat's senior director for enforcement, Lynn Parker, said: "Our investigation has found serious failures in how Yorkshire Water has operated and maintained its sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows."
Ms Parker said Yorkshire Water had recognised this failure and was taking steps to "put it right".
"They deserve credit for stepping up and agreeing an enforcement package with us that will help get things back on track as soon as possible," she added.
Ofwat said Yorkshire Water had been ordered to pay £36.6m during 2025-30 to prioritise work on some of the most problematic storm overflows in environmentally sensitive areas to ensure they spill less than 20 times a year.
It would also be expected to pay £3.4m to the Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership, which would be used to clear artificial barriers in rivers, improve water quality and promote biodiversity.
Yorkshire Water's chief executive, Nicola Shaw, said the firm had already completed work at 70 storm overflows and was due to start a £1.5bn programme to reduce discharges even further over the next five years.
She said: "We know there's still more for us to do.
"We apologise for our past mistakes and hope this redress package goes some way to show our commitment to improving the environment."
A spokesperson for The Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership said: "We welcome the additional funding.
"By reinvesting this money in Yorkshire, even more projects will be delivered by Great Yorkshire Rivers partners across the county to support the recovery of our native fish species."
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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