On Tuesday 18th June 2024, six Bristol Soroptimists paid a third visit to Wessex Water as part of our aim to learn more about drinking water and sewage treatment in our area.
We had previously visited Wessex sewage treatment centres in Weston-super-Mare and Bristol. This time we went to the Ashford Education Centre at Cannington, near Bridgwater, home to the Ashford Reservoir, constructed in 1934 which, along with the Hawkridge reservoir in the Quantocks are fed by local streams and provide water to the on-site treatment works built in 1879.
Sue Goodland, Education Adviser expertly and informatively, guided us round the reservoir and told us about the abundant flora and fauna to which it is home – including swans and 3 cygnets. She then took us round the treatment centre and explained stages in the purification of water to make it fit for drinking, a process involving filtering, chemicals, sand and carbon granules with regular testing to ensure the resultant water is 7.5 ph, no more, no less. A small amount of Chlorine (very strictly and carefully monitored as it is a dangerous chemical) is then added to kill off any remaining bacteria ready for transportation to the taps in our homes, the whole process taking an average of 12 hours.
We were impressed by security and monitoring at the site though it is only managed by one person; the treatment centre is closed during delivery of the many different chemicals needed. Great care is then taken to ensure that these can only be discharged into the correct tank as each has a designated size of opening for each chemical used so it is impossible to unload into the wrong tank – something that happened a few years’ ago in Cornwall.
It was a very worthwhile visit; we learnt a lot and were very grateful for Sue Goodland’s time and immense knowledge. Thank you Sue for a very informative day.