Reducing risk of sewer flooding

Two old sewers, that burst causing sewer flooding near properties in Batemoor and Lowedges, are currently being replaced by the water supply and treatment utility company.

Yorkshire Water is spending £1.6 million on a new large sewer to replace these sewers and reduce the flooding risks in these areas. This work is expected to be completed within the next few months.

The new sewer runs through the sports field near Greenhill Main Road to Yorkshire Water’s sewage pumping station off Jordanthorpe Parkway.

A spokesman for the company say: “To cause as little disruption as possible, Yorkshire Water and their contractors, Barhale Plc, have been laying the sewer in grass verges and have used a tunnelling technique called ‘directional drilling’ to lay the new sewer under the road.

“Most of the new pipeline has been laid in grass verges in the vicinity of Chesterfield Road South, but four road crossings were necessary; Jordanthorpe Parkway, Chesterfield Road South, Lowedges Road and Greenhill Main Road.”

Local MP, Louise Haigh, visited the scheme last month to check on progress and to learn more about the new £1.6 million sewer.

Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Healey, said: “I was pleased to see Yorkshire Water performing this vital investment and maintenance work to tackle pollution and flooding risks.

“It was also interesting to learn about the new tunnelling techniques being used to minimise traffic and customer disruption during the works, no one would have noticed that they were working underneath Chesterfield Road South and hopefully more work can be carried out in this manner in the future.”

Yorkshire Water was recently ranked as the highest water company, and the second best UK utility company for customer satisfaction in a survey carried out by the Institute of Customer Services.