Plans for a major upgrade of a water treatment works near York have been submitted after a £35m investment was announced for the site last month.
Yorkshire Water confirmed the investment at its work near Naburn was part of a wider £350m programme to reduce the amount of phosphorus being returned to rivers in wastewater.
Phosphorus is present in shampoos and liquid detergents and is a normal part of domestic sewage. A small amount is harmless, but, if left unmanaged, it can damage human and animal health.
Yorkshire Water’s planning application proposes the installation of a number of “kiosks” and storage tanks across the Naburn Lane site.
Yorkshire Water project manager Lucie Arger said there were also plans to invest in reducing discharges from storm overflows into the River Ouse in the coming years.
Arger said: “The health of Yorkshire’s rivers is incredibly important to us and to our customers.
“Reducing the levels of phosphorous in our treated wastewater is one way in which we can do our bit to improve it.”