Clungunford borehole shut in oil spillage probe

A borehole which supplies thousands of properties with water has been shut down while investigations are conducted into an oil spill.

Water from the Clungunford borehole has been cut off by Severn Trent Water after oil contaminated the ground nearby. It supplies water to 3,200 homes in Bishop's Castle.

An alternative borehole at Oakley Farm. near Ludlow, is now being used to supply homes and businesses in the area.

Grace Marren, spokeswoman for Severn Trent. said that it was important that people realised there was never any indication the Clungunford borehole had been contaminated and that he move was just precautionary.

She said: "We are currently using our Oakley Farm borehole to supply water to Bishop's Castle while our investigations into the source of the contamination continue with the Environment Agency.

"The Clungunford borehole, which usually supplies Bishop's Castle, will be put back on once investigations are complete."

Clungunford is one of two boreholes in the area which allow rainwater to seep from ground level down to the water table below, according to Severn Trent Water officials.

The water is then processed and fed into Bishop's Castle reservoir which in turn supplies the town with water.

If the oil had seeped through the ground and into the borehole the water table could have been contaminated.

Tankers were initially used when the Clungungford borehole was shut down more than two weeks ago to bring clean water to top up the Bishop's Castle reservoir while the Oakley Farm borehole was adapted for increased production.

Severn Trent chiefs added that the water supply to local householders had not been disrupted in any way since the investigations into the oil spillage had got under way.