South Elmsall Sewage Treatment Works – Integrated Constructed Wetland

To improve the water quality at Frickley Beck, a tributary of the River Don, Yorkshire Water commissioned our team to investigate potential solutions. We undertook a range of surveys, applied the total expenditure (TOTEX) hierarchy and a systems approach, and identified an integrated constructed wetland (ICW) solution mitigating the need for a conventional stormwater storage tank. Yorkshire Water aimed to steer away from energy-intense conventional treatment processes, favoring a sustainable, low-carbon treatment, and the ICW outcome did just that.

Designed with over 220,000 plants, the South Elmsall Sewage Treatment Works Wetland will improve biodiversity and enhance wildlife all while blending into the natural landscape and minimizing the use of carbon-heavy materials such as concrete. The nature-based solution uses interconnected ponds aiming to effectively treat stormwater flows and achieve regulatory water quality targets.

Our team prepared the outline design for the three-hectare wetland, two new pumping stations, new weir chamber and associated pipework. Construction on the scheme will commence in 2024 and is expected by be operational by 2026. The scheme expects to deliver 53% operational spend (OPEX) savings annually and a 52% reduction in embodied carbon to compared to a traditional solution.