MORE than £500,000 is being invested by South West Water to safeguard the water supplies of 30,000 homes located between Tavistock and Plymouth by the end of March.
Almost 2.5 miles (4,006 metres) of water mains from Dousland water treatment works will be upgraded using various techniques to ensure the pipelines remain effective for at least the next 100 years. Some of these mains have been in place since 1940.
This year alone South West Water will spend more than £30 million to improve almost 250 miles of the region?s water mains, putting the sparkle back into more South West water supplies.
A 21-inch iron main has been renovated using a large diameter lining rig the size of an articulated lorry to scrape out corroded iron pipes and reline with a polymeric coating to safeguard future water quality.
This main, which supplies Tavistock, Milton Coombe, and parts of the South Hams, has produced a record nine tons of corroded iron along every 100 to 150-metre stretch during the relining process. This is due to a low flow rate along the main allowing a higher than normal build up.
Before the project was started a full investigation was carried out to ascertain the condition of the water mains and find the most effective renovation method. Some pipelines from Roborough reservoir will be replaced if necessary using the latest specialist materials.
Les Metcalfe, South West Water?s regional rehabilitation manager said: ?This work is essential to safeguard water quality and ensure the mains system is able to meet future demand.
?It is also necessary to improve water pressure and prevent discolouration caused by old corroding cast iron mains.?