£2m Bradford Moor sewer upgrade project due to start (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

£2m Bradford Moor sewer upgrade project due to start

8:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By James Rush, T&A Reporter

A two million pound scheme is to begin in Bradford next month to allow engineers to inspect and refurbish a large part of the sewer network following an increase in flooding.

And Yorkshire Water has urged householders in the Bradford Moor area, where the work will take place, to also look after the sewer system by not pouring substances like fats, oils and grease down the plughole.

The company’s contract partner Morr MacDonald Bentley will be carrying out the work, which will include using CCTV cameras to inspect the public sewers, taking photographs and checking the condition of private systems.

The Bradford-based company has said a “significant number” of internal flooding incidents had occurred in the area in the past five years. The work will look to identify the causes of the flooding and carry out any unnecessary remedial work.

Once the surveying is complete, any sewers that are found to have defects will be repaired free for residents.

Meanwhile, if work needs to be carried out on private pipes, residents will be consulted and visited by a customer service representative.

Yorkshire Water project manager Lee Laherty said: “We hope that this pro-active work will highlight any problems with the sewers in the area so that we can find appropriate solutions to help prevent incidents of flooding.

“Although our work will play a huge part in finding solutions we still need residents in the area to look after their own sewer pipes as one of the problems causing blockages is people mistakenly disposing of items incorrectly down their sinks and toilets.”

The company has said items like fats, oil, grease, baby-wipes and make-up wipes build up over time in the sewers, solidifying and reducing the flow of waste water.

Mr Laherty said: “Because this work involves investigating some privately-owned pipes we will require access to people’s land.”

Residents have been urged to check any visitors claiming to be from Yorkshire Water by asking for identification and checking it by calling 0845 1 242424.

A drop-in session is to be held on Wednesday, from 4.30pm to 7pm, at the Karmand Community Centre in Barkerend Road, Bradford, where residents will have the chance to learn more about the scheme.

For more information on how and where to should dispose of items appropriately visit yorkshirewater.com/binit.