Visit Malton Sewer – Yorkshire Water sewage spill data for Malton, Norton and Old Malton 2019

Visit Malton Sewer

Sewage pollution of the River Derwent SSSI, Norton, Malton 2025. Yorkshire Water pumping raw sewage into the river as a means of flood alleviation. — Yorkshire Water pumping sewage into the River Derwent on Wednesday 3 December 2025. Aided and abetted by North Yorkshire Council and the Environment Agency.

This photo shows the contents of the Church Street, Norton, combined sewer being pumped into the River Derwent SSSI as a means of flood alleviation. What was once an emergency response to high river levels, is now the permanently engineered, go-to, method of flood alleviation by Yorkshire Water. Yorkshire Water does not have a permit for this discharge outlet, and there is no monitoring of the sewage being pumped into the river. Out of sight, out of mind (almost). To understand more about the illicit sewage dumping in the River Derwent, read about the luscious Malton and Norton Pumping Plan (aka the Malton and Norton Pollution Plan).

Malton and Norton – a cunning plan!

Malton and Norton Pumping Plan map showing position of permanent infrastructure used to pump sewage into the River Derwent (location circled in red). This bespoke, engineered, facility does not have a permit to discharge. This is deliberate sewage pollution of the river by the multi-agency partnership as a cheap but polluting method of flood alleviation. There is no capacity in the Malton and Norton sewerage system. See below:

The River Derwent is all set to receive the sewage from the proposed Barrett Taylor Wimpey development of 645 houses in Norton. It has nowhere else to go. More houses means more raw sewage in our river. There has been no increase in sewage treatment capacity in Malton (Norton) in the last 15 years, despite an increase in population by 40%. Wave goodbye to improvements to air quality, goodbye to a clean river, and goodbye to being able to drive through Malton and Norton in less than half an hour (ok, I’m being generous).

The biggest threat to the quality of life of the residents of both Malton and Norton is not from Russia, but from the short-sightedness and lack of creativity of the Local Planning Authority – North Yorkshire Council. That, and the complicity of Yorkshire Water and the EA. No one can ever admit that they got it badly wrong – that the Ryedale Plan was, and still is, the most destructive document ever produced in Ryedale. Incredibly still being waved in the air like a dead sea scoll. Deadly it most certainly is, so sit back and watch North Yorkshire Planning Committee members ruin our towns. The execution will be available to watch on YouTube. Increase in traffic = increase in air pollution = permanent harm to the developing lungs of young children. Increase in number of houses = increase in number of bums and sewage pollution of the River Derwent SSSI, SAC.

Norton level crossing – River Derwent sewage pollution launch pad.

Norton level crossing - River Derwent, Norton, Malton sewage pollution.

Here is the Yorkshire Water sewage spill data for Malton, Norton and Old Malton in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The figures are taken from the Environment Agency EDM (Event Duration Monitoring) records and Yorkshire Water EDM data (it’s the same). Spill data submitted by Yorkshire Water confirms that the Yorkshire Water sewerage system for Malton and Norton is not fit for purpose.

It is offical: there has been no increase in sewage treatment capacity in Malton and Norton for the past 15 years. During which time the popluation of the towns has increased by 40%.

The EDM records show the number and duration of sewage spills into the river Derwent SSSI which amounts to thousands of hours each year due to the lack of capacity in the sewerage system to accomodate the volume of sewage produced by the towns.

WARNING: Malton and Norton and Old Malton (and River Derwent SSSI) are facing an environmetnal disaster: If the Barrett Taylor Wimpey planning application for 645 houses on land adjoining Norton Lodge, Norton, and the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation application for 200 houses in Malton are approved, the sewage will be discharged into the river. As stated above, the Malton sewerage system (and sewage treatment works) does not have the capacity to treat the additional volume of sewage.

UPDATE 24 JANUARY 2025: Re Planning Application 21/01115/MOUTE submitted by Barrett Taylor Wimpey for 645 houses in Norton, Malton.
Yorkshire Water has written to the Local Planning Authority, North Yorkshire Council (letter dated 16 January 2025) requesting the following condition be attached to any planning permission granted, that… [ Read the full letter here ]

“No development shall take place until details of the proposed means of disposal of foul water drainage for the whole site, including details of any balancing works, off-site works and phasing of the necessary infrastructure, have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. Furthermore, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, no buildings shall be occupied or brought into use prior to completion of the approved foul drainage works. (To ensure that no foul water discharges take place until proper provision has been made for their disposal).“

Reason: to prevent wholesale sewage pollution of the River Derwent SSSI SAC by Yorkshire Water, and prevent an increase in sewage pollution of the wider Malton and Norton environment.

Yorkshire Water sewage ‘spill’ data for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

Pump it Up!

Yorkshire Water Live Storm Overflow Map

Environment Agency EDM Records (Links to individual years)

Malton, Norton and Old Malton Pumping Plan and the Arup report