The council discussed plans to address Sheffield’s sewage problems with their new proposal, ‘Protect Our Rivers’ on 4 December.
The debate comes after record levels of pollution in 2023, when Yorkshire Water pumped sewage into Sheffield’s rivers 4,781 times. This is equivalent to 18,000 hours, a 33% increase on the year before. The water company paid a £150,000 fine for these incidents.
The Don is now one of the 23% of UK rivers which are classed as in “poor” or “bad” health according to The Rivers Trust.
The motion, raised by Richmond councillor David Barker, urges Yorkshire Water to be transparent and to commit to reducing sewage pollution.
Seconding ‘Protect Our Rivers’, Councillor Mark Whittaker said: “Politicians, local and national, should be leading on this. This motion is a step in doing that.”
The Environmental Agency’s most recent EPA report now classes Yorkshire Water as a two-star company, meaning that it requires improvement.
The report also found that Yorkshire Water is one of four companies making up 90% of pollution during this time.
The local groups tackling pollution in the Don first hand say they have seen a positive change in Yorkshire Water’s approach to the environment.
The Don Catchment Rivers trust is a charity which aims to see Sheffield’s rivers thrive. Rachel Walker, their CEO, said: “We are pleased with the attitude coming from Yorkshire Water.
“It hasn’t always been this way but we feel like we are making progress. People will see some big changes coming from Yorkshire Water soon.”
Also striving to improve and connect Sheffield’s waterways is Riverlution. Managing Director Geoffrey Guy feels that while “every little helps”, the council’s plans to tackle river pollution aren’t good enough.
He said: “I see a lot of the council saying it is someone else’s fault and patting themselves on the back. They need to have some introspection and accountability.”
Researchers at the University of Sheffield say that it’s not just sewage from Yorkshire Water which pollutes the Don. Domestic chemicals are also ending up in the Don through a process called urban runoff.
Guy added: “It would be nice if the council recognises their position as a landowner and how this could be levered to improve water quality.”
Sheffield City Council have not yet commented.
