River Don waters 'set to improve' after £78m investment
The water quality in the River Don is set to improve, Yorkshire Water has claimed, following a £78m investment into its sewage works.
The company said it was updating its facility at Blackburn Meadows, near junction 34 of the M1 in Sheffield to reduce ammonia levels in the river.
The facility which was built in the late 1800s recycles waste water from the city and parts of Rotherham.
Yorkshire Water said the upgrade would benefit fish and wildlife.
Richard Sears from Yorkshire Water said: "We're literally going to breath new life into the river which enables the fish and wildlife to thrive. It's a positive investment."
The company said it was updating its treatment facility to tie in with the European Fresh Water Fish Directive legislation which will be introduced in 2015, allowing ammonia levels in treated water to be no higher than 3mg per litre.
Yorkshire Water said it would also be updating its pumping station in the Don Valley area to prevent sewage debris going into the river during heavy rain fall.