WORK is due to re-start on Monday on a £16million scheme to upgrade the water mains in and around Taunton.

Wessex Water has already modernised around 11,500m of pipes since the project started in June.
Ageing mains, some dating from Victorian times, are being replaced or relined.

A Wessex spokeswoman said innovative techniques, such as relining water mains from the inside, thus minimising the amount of excavation required, and the patience of local people had enabled the project to run smoothly in busy areas.

Once complete it will cut the risk of consumers receiving discoloured water through their taps.

Phil Luxton, Wessex Water’s project manager for the scheme, said: “The iron mains supplying water to people in Taunton are around 100 years old and as a result have corroded, leading to occasional discolouration of water.

“Though this is of no harm to health, this work is vital so water mains are replaced with modern plastic pipes which have an expected longevity of around 100 years.

“We’d like to thank people for their continued support and co-operation while we carry out this essential work.”

To date, work has taken place along many key roads, including Priorswood Road, Greenway Road, Normandy Drive and High Street.

In the run-up to Christmas the workforce moved away from busy arterial routes in the town to minimise disruption and the company stopped work on the initiative on December 21.