Landmark agreement to improve health of River Calder

Calderdale Council and Yorkshire Water have signed a landmark agreement to improve the health of the River Calder.

In the first agreement of its kind in the Yorkshire region, a new Memorandum of Understanding sets out how the two organisations will work more closely together to:

• Tackle pollution.
• Improve water quality.
• Support nature-based solutions across the Calder catchment.

The River Calder flows through many of the borough’s towns and villages and plays a vital role in the local environment, wildlife and communities.

Like many rivers, the Calder faces several challenges. These include historic industrial pollution, sewage discharges, runoff from land and highways, and residential plumbing errors.

Improving this vital waterway is a top priority locally and nationally. Restoring the area’s rivers is a major part of the Calderdale Ecological Emergency Plan, and a recent Council review focused specifically on ways to tackle river pollution.

To address this, the Council and Yorkshire Water have committed to working more closely together. A new agreement now provides a clear framework for how both organisations will collaborate to improve the health of the River Calder.