Birstall/CSO
Storm overflow operated by Yorkshire Water. The source names Smithies Beck as the receiving water.
- 12
- Spills in 2025
- 10.5
- Recorded hours
- 100%
- Monitor operation
- 6
- Years listed
The reported spill count was 4 higher than in 2024. This compares event counts, not discharge volume.
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
Birstall/CSO recorded 12 spills in 2025. That is more than 51% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 6,643rd nationally. Among Yorkshire Water overflows it ranks 1,205th of 2,176; the median Yorkshire Water overflow recorded 16 spills. On the Batley Beck from Source to River Calder waterbody it ranks 3rd of 13.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 12 | 10.5 |
| England | 6,643rd of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| Yorkshire Water | 1,205th of 2,176 | 16 | 37.8 |
| Batley Beck from Source to River Calder | 3rd of 13 | 7 | 10.5 |
Rank 1 has the most spills. Equal counts share a rank. Only overflows with a reported count are ranked. Counts do not measure volume, so a higher rank does not mean more sewage.
Annual spill history
| Year | Spills | Duration | Monitor operation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 10.5 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2024 | 8 | 9.3 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2023 | 14 | 14.3 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2022 | 12 | 5.8 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2021 | 17 | 15 hours | 99.8% | Official data |
| 2020 | 12 | 7.9 hours | 100% | Official data |
A missing figure means the source did not provide a usable value. A zero is shown as zero. Monitor operation below 90% can make comparison less reliable.
Outlet details
- Water company
- Yorkshire Water
- Outlet type
- Storm overflow on the sewer network
- Permit
- WA6377
- Activity reference
- A1
- Grid reference
- SE2237225830
- Waterbody ID
- GB104027062670Official waterbody record ↗
- Location source
- Official annual grid reference
- Location precision
- About 1 metres
- Location note
- Unknown
About the name and type
The annual return lists this asset as “SO on sewer network”: storm overflow on the sewer network. The return places this overflow on the sewer network.
The waterbody link opens the Environment Agency record for the exact ID in the return. It is a source lookup; we do not import its classification.
Where it is
The recorded position is about 1.9 km north-west of the Batley reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
Area and water pages
- Drighlington area →
- Pudsey area →
- Gomersal and Birkenshaw area →
- Brighouse area →
- Scholes (near Cleckheaton) area →
- Gildersome area →
- Cleckheaton area →
- Oakenshaw area →
- Norwood Green area →
- Morley (Leeds) area →
- Kirkheaton area →
- Bradford area →
- Moor Top area →
- Liversedge area →
- Mirfield area →
- East Ardsley area →
- Heckmondwike area →
- Thorpe on the Hill (Leeds) area →
- Batley area →
- Dewsbury area →
- Kirkhamgate area →
- Batley Beck from Source to River Calder waterbody →
Check the official record
Public access to this outlet is unknown. Do not enter restricted land or use this page as a route guide.
Open official source ↗Other outlet records nearby
- Helliwell Syke/No 3 CSOCurrent status unknown
Yorkshire Water · Helliwell Syke
- Birkenshaw/No 4 CSOCurrent status unknown
Yorkshire Water · Nutter Beck
- Listing Mill Farm/CSOCurrent status unknown
Yorkshire Water · Tributary of the River Spen
- Melton Street/CSOCurrent status unknown
Yorkshire Water · Carlinghow Beck
Questions about Birstall/CSO
- Who operates Birstall/CSO?
- Yorkshire Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is WA6377.
- Where does Birstall/CSO discharge?
- The source names Smithies Beck as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did Birstall/CSO spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 12 counted spill events and 10.5 hours of recorded discharge. Spills are counted with the 12/24-hour method, so this is not a count of every start signal.
- Can I trust the 2025 figures for this outlet?
- The monitor worked for 100% of the reporting period, so the annual figures cover most of the year. They still do not measure discharge volume.
- Is Birstall/CSO discharging right now?
- This record is linked to a company live feed. The panel above shows the latest report we hold, with its date. That report can be old, and the monitor can be offline, so check the date before relying on it. A report that no discharge is taking place is not a water-quality result.
- How accurate is the map marker?
- The marker comes from the grid reference in the official annual return, which is accurate to about 1 metres. It shows the recorded outlet position, not the extent of any discharge.
- What kind of outlet is Birstall/CSO?
- The annual return lists the asset type as “SO on sewer network”, which means storm overflow on the sewer network. The return places this overflow on the sewer network.
- How does Birstall/CSO compare with other overflows?
- Birstall/CSO recorded 12 spills in 2025. That is more than 51% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 6,643rd nationally. Among Yorkshire Water overflows it ranks 1,205th of 2,176; the median Yorkshire Water overflow recorded 16 spills. On the Batley Beck from Source to River Calder waterbody it ranks 3rd of 13. Ranks compare counted spill events only. They do not compare volume or harm.
- Does zero spills mean the water was safe?
- No. A zero means the annual return recorded zero counted spill events for this outlet and year. It is not a water-quality test, and pollution can come from other sources.