WORK to upgrade Beverley's sewage treatment plant and reduce odours from the site could start as early as next year. Yorkshire Water recently announced plans to spend at least £11m to improve processes at the facility.
The proposed investment is part of the company's next five-year business plan, due to start in 2015. However, East Riding councillors have been told work at the site could start next year.
Speaking at a council scrutiny meeting, Yorkshire Water's regional manager for waste water, Lee Pitcher, said industry regular Ofwat had supported a request by the company to bring the start of the work forward.
He said the importance of the upgrade to resolve long-standing odour problems had influenced the decision.
"Ofwat has told us we can make an early start, so there is potential for us to be on site next year.
"Getting those improvements in at Beverley is absolutely one of my priorities."
Smells from the site peaked during the summer, prompting complaints from nearby residents and councillors.
Mr Pitcher said Yorkshire Water had already commissioned consultants to carry out a feasibility study on what work was needed at the plant.
He said a nine-month study was needed to check how the processes worked during different climatic conditions in different seasons.
He said: "We currently estimate it will cost £11m to make physical improvements at the site together with an additional £3m to cover additional running costs once the improvements are in place.
"The feasibility study will determine the exact level of investment required, so it could be less than £11m or more than that."
Councillor Keri Harold, whose ward covers the site, said she was "astounded" at the age and apparent poor condition of some areas of the treatment works during a recent site visit.
"This investment is very much welcomed," she said.
Councillors also heard details about a proposed £10.9m investment by Yorkshire Water at its problematic waste water treatment works at Saltend.
Smells from that site have plagued residents in nearby Preston and Hedon since it opened 13 years ago.
