Sewer systems in villages upgraded

Severn Trent Water has installed 700 metres of new sewers and built a new pumping station in Meifod, near Welshpool.

And builders are now in the village of Foel, near Llanfair Caereinion, to make a start on a new pumping station there.

Richard Williams, programme manager for Severn Trent Water, said: "The sewage pumping stations in Meifod and Foel have been serving the community well for years, but they had started to get old and were coming to the end of their life.

"We know the old pumping stations have struggled lately and this has meant several homes nearby have been disrupted, often late at night by us having to do unplanned maintenance work. We know how horrible this is for our customers and we wanted to stop it from happening again, so these new sewers and pumping stations are a significant and important investment."

He added: "The work in Meifod took longer than we expected and we would like to thank the community for the patience shown and their understanding during the work.

The new sewers and pumping stations in Meifod and soon Foel too, will serve the community for many years to come. But it is important to look after them.

"Many people don't realise the harmful effects of disposing of fats, oils and greases down sinks and drains. They quickly solidify when they hit the cool walls of a sewer and they can stick to the side. Other debris is then trapped and causes a blockage. The waste water backs up the system, coming out of the drains, sewers and potentially intohomes. In addition, only toilet paper should go down the loo. Anything else, including face wipes, cotton buds and nappies should be put in the bin."