Shropshire Star

Water supply to Shropshire homes changed after complaints

The water supplied to thousands of households in Shropshire will be changed in January in an attempt to improve its taste.

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Residents in Oswestry have been complaining for a decade about the taste and quality of the water from their taps, claiming it furred up appliances and tasted of chlorine.

But now officials at Severn Trent have agreed to change the supply's blend. The current supply is made up of a mix of water from the River Severn and groundwater boreholes.

Severn Trent now plans to change that blend over a period of several days, with a proposed start date of January 15, so there is a 'more consistent taste and odour'.

The change would see just 10 per cent less of the water coming from the River Severn. Severn Trent could also work on reducing the chlorine level.

The company will be holding drop-in sessions next month for members of the public to find out more.

A spokesman said: "Today, customers in Oswestry receive a blend of water that is made up of around 50 per cent borehole water, taken from the site in Pentre near Nesscliffe, and 50 per cent from the River Severn, which is treated at our Shelton plant, in Shrewsbury.

"The new blending arrangements are planned to be introduced in the new year.

"They will see Oswestry's water supply being made up of 50 per cent water from Pentre and 40 per cent from Eyton boreholes, with the remainder of the supply being made up from water from Shelton.

"We are also putting in place plans to build a new covered reservoir which we hope will be completed in 2014. If the planning process is approved and we are able to construct the new covered reservoir, we will also be able to lower chlorine levels even more, which will improve the taste of the water even further."

Councillor Martin Bennett, town mayor, said: "We look forward to trying the new blend of water."

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