08:00 - 12 September 2007
The
Bransholme pumping station in Ennerdale failed when it was flooded.
In addition, an Independent Review Body set up to examine June's floods also
raised concerns over the partial decommissioning of the firm's west Hull pumping
station in Goulton Street.
The review body's interim report said it was also concerned a major sewage and
storm water tunnel constructed under the city six years ago may not be large
enough to cope with extreme prolonged heavy rainfall.
Among the body's main recommendations was an increase in pumping capacity in
Hull.
The review of Yorkshire Water's network in Hull will be carried out by global
design and business consulting firm Arup.
Due to report back to the company's board by the end of next month, Arup's
engineers will look at the feasibility of increasing the pumping capacity at
four stations in Hull - Bransholme, Saltend, west Hull and east Hull.
A Yorkshire Water spokesman said the Arup review would also explore issues
surrounding power supply and flood protection at the four pumping stations, as
recommended by the review body's report.
He said: "We believe our infrastructure coped well in exceptional storm
conditions in June.
"No drinking water supply was interrupted, there were no major pollution
incidents and our pumping stations prevented more catastrophic flooding in the
city centre.
"Like others, we are open to lessons learned and anxious to explore if we can
help to mitigate some of the risks in the future by improving the capacity and
resilience of our pumping infrastructure."
The spokesman said commissioning the Arup study was "the first step to any
future investment" and stressed long-term investment to protect the city against
future flooding would require a multi-agency solution.
He said: "Whatever the recommendations of our review, it is important to stress
even the best infrastructure in the world would most likely be overwhelmed by
the level and duration of rainfall experienced in June."
However, flood victim John Brockwell, of Pryme Street, Anlaby, said he still
believed Yorkshire Water was mainly responsible for most of the flooding in Hull
and its western suburbs.
He said he is considering legal action against the company over the issue.
He said: "I am not convinced it was an exceptional one-off weather event.
"As far as I am concerned it wasn't a natural disaster, but a man-made one that
could have been avoided."
a.young@mailnewsmedia.co.uk