CONGLETON householders are to benefit from a £1.3 million scheme aimed at improving their drinking water.

North West Water is investing the money to upgrade the Hug Bridge water treatment works, which supplies 25,000 homes and businesses in the town and surrounding area.

The work is part of NWW's five-year £3 billion investment programme, which the company said would mean water being treated to even higher standards.

"The quality of water in the River Dane can vary, depending on how much it rains," said project manager Dave Davies.

"These improvements will allow the works to cope with the variations, whatever the weather."

To supply homes and businesses in Congleton 4.5 million litres of water are treated at the works using water from the River Dane and boreholes at Rushton Spencer.

Less river water will be used while the works are carried out, and the difference will be made up by temporarily increasing supplies from the boreholes.

An application has been made to the Environment Agency for permission to increase use of the boreholes.

"By the end of next year we will have a reliable water treatment plant which meets all new water treatment regulations," added Mr Davies.

"This has to be good news for people in Congleton."

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