TOTTIFORD Reservoir, Hennock, which serves 72,000 properties, is set to receive a £4 million overhaul to maintain its water quality.

A planning application has been submitted by South West Water to Dartmoor National Park Authority for a new filter building, and if granted work is scheduled to begin early next year.

The proposal is for five rapid gravity filters, which will replace the existing pressure filters installed in 1964 and nearing the end of their useful life. The building in which they are housed dates back to the Victorian era.

It is planned for the new building to be constructed next to the existing plant, and it will also hold a backwash tank and a dirty backwash tank as well as a new transformer and generator.

Similar cladding as on the old building is to be used and screening provided by the planting of Scots spruce and silver birch trees – no trees are to be axed.

FULL STORY IN OUR ONLINE EDITION