A major upgrade to Barnsley’s water network is now underway as Yorkshire Water, alongside partners Galliford Try and Heffernan Utilities, kicks off the first of 16 planned projects aimed at replacing more than 20 kilometres of ageing water mains across the town.
The first phase of the £494,205 investment began this week at the junction of Greenfoot Lane and Huddersfield Road, with crews working their way towards Wilthorpe Avenue. This initial stretch will see 1.8km of water mains replaced, forming part of a wider programme designed to future-proof Barnsley’s water infrastructure.
Shaun Chapman, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said the scheme is just one part of the company’s most ambitious infrastructure investment to date.
“This is part of Yorkshire Water’s largest infrastructure investment to replace over 1,000km of water mains across the whole of the Yorkshire region in the next five years,” he said.
“We’ve identified 16 priority projects for Barnsley to complete in the next two years replacing 20.7km of existing pipes with mains, built to withstand high pressure and temperature variations, resulting in fewer bursts, lower leakage and a reduction in water supply disruptions for customers.”
The new mains are designed to be far more robust than older pipework, which means residents can expect a more reliable water supply with fewer incidents of leakage or burst pipes. These improvements are especially important in the face of increasing weather extremes and growing demand across the region.
While the scale of the project means some disruption is unavoidable, Yorkshire Water has worked closely with local authorities and the Highways team to put traffic measures in place and keep residents informed. On Greenfoot Lane, a one-way system is now active, with no entry from Huddersfield Road and access only from Wilthorpe Crescent. Signed diversions are in place, and access for residents and local schools is being maintained throughout the work.
The water mains replacement is part of Yorkshire Water’s wider £8.3 billion environmental investment plan, which includes a range of measures aimed at tackling key concerns raised by customers across the region.
This includes £1.5 billion to reduce storm overflows into rivers, £360 million to combat nutrient pollution, and £327 million to roll out smart meters to help households monitor their usage and lower bills. A further £51 million is being invested in strengthening infrastructure resilience, while £98 million is earmarked for installing river water quality monitors to help identify and respond to pollution faster.
On top of this, £75 million has been set aside for general environmental improvements, and £99 million will go toward boosting the quality of drinking water.
For Barnsley, this week marks the beginning of a two-year transformation that will lay the groundwork for cleaner, more reliable water for years to come. And with 16 projects planned in total, residents can expect to see plenty of activity – and plenty of long-term benefits – as the new mains are installed.
