Howden, Yorkshire

Flood Prevention

SDS addresses the impact of the town’s expansion on surface water control.

Overview

This project forms a vital part of Yorkshire Water’s £6 million investment in Howden and Howdendyke, designed to improve water quality and flood resilience in anticipation of significant urban expansion. With Howden set to double in size, incorporating 2,000 new homes and extensive community and infrastructure developments, the initiative underscores Yorkshire Water’s commitment to environmental sustainability and future-proofing critical infrastructure.

The Howden Sewage Treatment Works project addresses existing challenges with surface water and wastewater management while safeguarding the area against flooding risks. It sets a strong foundation for accommodating the town’s future growth and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

What We Did

SDS was appointed to design, manufacture and install a stormwater storage system that would enhance the capacity and resilience of the existing wastewater network.

A 4,000m³ Weholite attenuation tank was installed, comprising 889 metres of 2,500mm diameter pipes with 74 welded joints and 16 access shafts. The tank includes integrated dry weather flow channels and connects to Howden Wastewater Treatment Works via a 1.9-mile rising main directionally drilled beneath the M62 motorway nearby.

This project marks our first use of the Platipus Percussion Driven Earth Anchor (PDEA®) system alongside the Weholite tank. This innovative solution provides an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional concrete anchors, addressing ground movement and pipeline buoyancy issues while offering a 60-year design life.

The system was designed to meet Enhancement Case regulations, ensuring the infrastructure complies with increased flow and treatment requirements resulting from the town’s ongoing expansion.

Results

The completed project significantly enhances Howden’s wastewater network, improving its capacity and resilience while supporting Yorkshire Water’s mission to reduce pollution and improve water quality. It ensures better flood prevention and wastewater management for both the current population and the town’s future expansion.

Yorkshire Water’s customer research identified reducing pollution and improving infrastructure as top priorities, and this project aligns with those objectives. The initiative also lays a robust foundation for Howden’s planned developments, promoting community growth and environmental sustainability.

This significant project will provide increased capacity to the existing network and is an important part of our commitment to environmental performance and improving river quality. This first phase of works sets a solid foundation for phase two, ensuring the correct infrastructure is already in place to enable Yorkshire Water to prepare for the expansion working alongside the large-scale development plan.

– Sarah Albone, Project Manager, Yorkshire Water

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