MP calls for action over East Yorkshire village hit by repeated sewage leaks

Yorkshire Water has been sending tankers to the East Yorkshire village of North Newbald after the highest ever recorded levels of groundwater infiltrated the sewers causing them to overflow.

But locals want a long term solution to a problem which crops up regularly - dozens of jet vans and “vactor” trucks have been sent in to deal with sewage escapes over a five-year period.

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said he wanted YW “to commit to solving this once and for all”.

Villager Jack Marshall contacted Yorkshire Water 10 days ago after spotting that the waste manhole at his home was “full to the brim of sewage”.

The main sewage pipeline in the village blocked up and it was “just pouring out everywhere for days”, he said, and also flowing into the Beck, where there are water voles.

He said he had only been able to flush his toilet when the tankers come in.

“I’ve barely slept a wink since this happened,” he said. "People's mental health is suffering and the smell round the village is horrendous.

"It needs a proper looking at - not just fobbing off with excuses that the water table level is high or it’s because we have natural springs in the village, which is an easy cop out."

John Howard, who has motor neurone disease, which affects his mobility, was unable to use his downstairs toilet for five days.

He said: "It was really getting to the point where I was fretting about it because I am very slow with my mobility.

"This has been a recurring issue - some time ago people noticed raw sewage leaking out of the manholes into the Beck and they had to pump out the drains.

"If anything it is becoming more of a problem with climate change. Yorkshire Water was very much 'it's happening there's nothing you can do about it'.

"But we are their customers and we deserve a little better treatment."

Mr Stuart said: “I really feel for residents in North Newbald who are now having to contend with this of all things, particularly after the horrid year we’ve all had.

"I can’t begin to imagine the toll it’s taking on their mental health.

“It’s not the first time this has happened, and I can almost guarantee it won’t be the last unless something is done to fix this and stop the groundwater getting into the sewers in the first place."

YW apologised, and said they were using tankers to alleviate the problems.

A statement said: “We’re really sorry for the issues that people are experiencing in North Newbald.

"Groundwater levels in the area are the highest ever recorded following the wet weather over the last few months. This groundwater is entering the sewer and causing them to fill up and not operate as they should.

"We have a team on site using tankers to empty the sewers to try to help alleviate the problems for residents while we work with East Riding Council which is the lead local flood authority for dealing with groundwater issues.”

On Thursday groundwater continued to escape from the sewer, sparking concern that it would cause pollution.

However YW said they were continuing to monitor ammonia levels within the groundwater entering the beck and "these indicate the groundwater is not polluting the beck".