Severn Trent opens doors to sewage site
[gallery] Members of the public found out what happens when Welshpool flushes as the town's sewage works opened its doors.
Staff at Welshpool sewage works conducted tours of the site, giving visitors an insight into the £3.25 million improvements to the water network that have been carried out since January.
Allister Jones, area sewage treatment manager at Severn Trent Water, said: "Every day we flush away our waste water but very few people know what happens after it leaves their homes.
"For those of us who are inquisitive we held an exhibition and opened the doors of Welshpool sewage treatment works for an optional tour."
The Welshpool facility treats sewage for the town to prevent waste entering water supplies and to keep clean water flowing to Welshpool residents.
Mr Jones said £3.25 million is being spent improving the treatment works by installing new equipment to help to treat the waste water and protect the local waterways.
Sarah O'Kane, spokeswoman at Severn Trent Water, said: "We wanted to give people an idea of how the treatment process works. People wouldn't think about it at all, but it's actually really interesting and right on your doorstep.
"You can see the work we're doing to improve the water network, and for us it's an opportunity to talk to our customers."
Criticism was levelled at Severn Trent last month, after a burst water main left Welshpool's Victoria Memorial Hospital without water for the third time this year.
Welshpool councillors demanded an investigation, and the company said it was installing a system, due to come into place on Monday to prevent the hospital losing its supply again.
Further major work to install new water pipes for Welshpool is scheduled to be finished before April 2014.
