CELEBRATIONS took place last week to mark the £2-million project to help safeguard Plymouth's drinking water.

Geoffrey Cox, MP for West Devon and Torridge, along with members of the project team, local dignitaries and members of the community gathered to officially reopen South West Water's Raw Water Pumping Station at Lopwell, near Plymouth, following its refurbishment earlier this year.

The station, which has been supplying Plymouth with drinking water from the River Tavy since the early 1980s, has had new pumps and more energy-efficient equipment installed. The new equipment means that the station will now use 23% less energy, and will be able to continue to supply drinking water to the city for years to come.

To mark the official reopening of Lopwell Pumping Station, Mr Cox and South West Water chief executive Chris Loughlin unveiled a plaque at a short ceremony on Friday afternoon.

Technical support engineer Ross Mitchell said: 'The pumping station at Lopwell provides an important source of drinking water for customers in Plymouth.

'The refurbishment of the station means that it will now operate more efficiently and effectively.'