Yorkshire Water says it is spending £3.3m at its Carthorpe wastewater treatment works near Bedale to improve water quality in Holme Beck.
Work is underway to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the watercourse by installing new electrocoagulation technology.
Eeperts say that installing the technology at the site means the use of chemicals to reduce phosphorus in treated wastewater is prevented, and the process is less carbon-intensive.
Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage, entering the sewer system via showers and washing machines in shampoos and liquid detergents.
It can also wash off from agricultural fields after the use of fertilisers and be dissolved from soil, which can be difficult to control.
The company says that while a small amount of phosphorus is harmless and is an essential part of many ecosystems, it can become damaging to human and animal life when unmanaged.
Andy Wilmer, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Over the last five years we’ve been investing heavily in our treatment works throughout the region to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering watercourses in treated effluent which is returned to the environment after the full treatment process.
“Phosphorus, which can enter rivers from a variety of sources, can be harmful to wildlife and the local environment if not managed.
“Our work at Carthorpe will reduce the phosphorus entering Holme Beck from the wastewater treatment works, improving the quality of the water locally and enabling the local wildlife and environment to thrive.
“The technology we are using means fewer chemicals will be used as part of the wastewater treatment process, it is a less carbon-intensive method and ultimately will provide better value for money for our customers.”
The project at Carthorpe is part of a £500m investment across Yorkshire to cut the amount of phosphorus entering watercourses to help improve water quality and enable wildlife and the environment to thrive.
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