Piping in the New Year

Putting the sparkle back into your water supply

Exmouth Road customers of South West Water are about to be affected by a major rehabilitation programme to improve water mains in the Budleigh area. Work was carried on laying new mains from the Golf Club to Links Road late last year, and 2009 will see completion of the project as far as the town centre.

Steve Manning, Liaison Officer for the company, explained that there had been a slight delay in implementing the projected timetable, originally planned for the beginning of January. However with the start now made at the Knowle Road/Exmouth Road junction he anticipated that steady progress should now be made eastwards towards Budleigh town centre. “We’ve had a few problems with bends in the mains pipework, but there’s nothing there that we can’t cope with,” he told Exmouth Roadies. Digging up the entire road will not be necessary as the iron pipework is being cleaned rather than replace, with excavation needed only every 50 metres. “After all the muck has been scraped out a nozzle is used to spray two layers of paint.” However road closures will be required near North View Road, Meadow Road and Station Road.

Customers affected by disruption to water supplies during the daytime are being sent letters warning them three days in advance. Mr Manning is hopeful that work on Exmouth Road mains will be completed within four weeks, with the total project for Budleigh lasting eight weeks. He is available for further information on 07791925581 between 7.30 am and 6.00 pm while the work is being carried out.

South West Water’s programme of water improvement commenced in 1989 and since that time the company has replaced or relined over 3,100 km of mains pipelines across the region.