Major investment at North Devon reservoir
24th July 2019
Visitors to Wistlandpound reservoir in North Devon today (24 July) were treated to an unusual sight as South West Water deployed a crane to place a new piece of equipment in the lake.
The ‘WEARS Reservoir (Destratification) Mixing system’ – or ResMix – is effectively a giant mixer that will help maintain water quality in the reservoir by keeping the water fully mixed and easier to treat.
South West Water’s Head of Water Quality, Chris Rockey, said: “The ResMix is an innovative replacement of the system used previously and will provide better mixing more efficiently whilst using less energy due to its ingenious design.
“It represents one of two investments at the site totalling almost £1million this year after some consumers noticed a change in the taste of supplies last year during the long hot and dry summer, for which we apologise.”
The ResMix, which weighs 1,200kg, was manufactured by an Australian company called WEARS, and assembled by Gurney Environmental in Norfolk. It was transported to Wistlandpound on a low loader as an escorted / wide load then lifted and placed into the reservoir by a crane.
Once the ResMix was lowered into the reservoir it was towed by an on-water team from Gurney Environmental to its final position where it was securely attached to pre-installed anchor blocks positioned within the reservoir by Falmouth Divers. An electrical supply cable was then laid out from the shore to the ResMix before it was commissioned for operational use.
The operation was carefully coordinated by Kier Integrated Services Utilities on behalf of South West Water. The installation was timed to coincide with the end of the woodland bird breeding season, when the chicks will have fledged.
Working in conjunction the Calvert Trust, the ResMix will be deployed so as not to affect the activities for people with physical, learning, behavioral and sensory disabilities offered by the Calvert Trust or leisure, recreation and access activities run by South West Lakes Trust.
Notes to editors:
Wistlandpound is just off the A399 near Barnstaple and has a capacity of 1,550 megalitres. Water from Wistlandpound is treated at Bratton Fleming and Horedown Water Treatment Works and supplies customers in North Devon, including Ilfracombe and Barnstaple.