A NEW £5.5-million project has started to deliver even better drinking water to customers in North Cornwall.

South West Water has invested the money to upgrade Tamar Lakes Water Treatment Works, near Holsworthy, to install additional manganese removal filters, five new granular activated carbon filters and a state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection system.

Manganese, which occurs naturally in reservoirs, can occasionally reach levels that may cause discolouration within the water network, so it is important that South West Water improve the treatment to remove manganese to ensure the appearance of the water to customers is consistently good.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a specially engineered and extremely porous material with a large internal surface area — just one teaspoon has the same surface area as a football pitch.

Due to its large surface area and special surface chemistry it can remove natural and manmade organic matter sometimes present in Tamar Lakes reservoir, which supplies the water treatment works.

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection uses UV light to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses sometimes found in the untreated reservoir water.

Operations director at Drinking Water Services, Bob Taylor, said: “We already have some of the best tap water in the country but this major investment will deliver even better drinking water to our customers in North Cornwall.

“In the short-term, some customers may notice the smell or taste of the water may change slightly. For this reason, we will bring the new treatment on line gradually and blend the new and improved water with the water currently produced by the works to ensure a smooth transition.”

Customers supplied by Tamar Lakes have started to benefit from the upgrades when water that has been through the GAC and UV treatment processes was introduced into supply on Tuesday, June 20.

This approach was undertaken successfully at Restormel and Wendron water treatment works in Cornwall in 2014.