Oswestry water campaigners raise a glass to success

And, during a test by Severn Trent yesterday, residents admitted that the new blend of H2O was 'not bad'.

The water company brought samples of the water that within weeks will be running through the taps in the town to a drop-in session at the Guildhall.

Staff also talked to customers about the planned changes to water blending arrangements.

Ten years ago the company stopped using the water from its reservoir at Llanforda on the edge of the town and instead took water from the River Severn along a 15-mile pipeline from Shrewsbury to Oswestry.

The change received wide criticism with local people saying the new supply was 'disgusting' and tasted of chlorine.

A water forum was set up by Oswestry Town Council and, after investigation, Severn Trent admitted that the chlorine levels were too high.

Now the company plans to change the supply again.

David Essex, from Severn Trent, said: "We've learned that the local community in Oswestry likes to understand what we're doing and have the opportunity to feed back on our plans. Therefore, we're very keen to keep the community up-to-date on where we are with them.

"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 February.

"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 of water from Shelton.

"After the new arrangements are in place, the water will have a more stable blend, which will enable us to further reduce the chlorine levels. As a result of this change, customers may prefer the taste of the water, although the change in the hardness of the water will be very small."

As well as the current tap water and the new supply from Severn Trent, the Shropshire Star offered people a glass of Brecon Carreg spring water from mid Wales.

One of the first to take the taste test yesterday was Oswestry pensioner, Margaret Hughes. Mrs Hughes, from Caer Road, said she had a glass of tap water to drink every morning.

She said: "I have had no problem with the tap water especially when it is cold. But this new water is very nice. I do prefer it." However Mrs Hughes did not like the bottled water.

Malcolm Harding said he was horrified when he returned to Oswestry six years ago to find the water supply had changed.

"The old water from Llanforda was delightful water. But the stuff we have now is just disgusting."

He added: "This new water is not bad at all. It is not as good as I remember the original water, but it's not bad."

He said bottled water was a completely different thing.

Eve Humber, who runs VTM Graphics in the Powis Hall indoor market, said: "The new water is very good. It is certainly on a par with the bottled water and much better than the currently tap water. It is very clear and tastes good."

Jean Roberts said she had had to buy water filters since the water was changed a decade ago.

"I only drink bottled water but use tap water for the kettle," she said. "But it tastes awful if you don't filter it.

"The new supply does seem to taste better and I hope that it will mean that I won't have to spend money on filters any more."

However Mrs Roberts said that when it came to drinking water, she preferred the bottled sort.