On Friday August 26th, the Exeter Express & Echo carried an interesting article on the history of Exeter's drinking water, in association with the forthcoming national Heritage Open Days visits.
How city tragedy led to the clean-up of water supplies, by Richard Birch, tells of the general history, as well as the initiatives that led to the building of Pynes Water Treatment Works, near Cowley Bridge, after a cholera epidemic killed 440 people in Exeter in the early 1830s.
Pynes is one of several South West Water installations offering Heritage Open Days tours. Places are limited, so call as soon as possible. To book places, contact South West Water's Communications Team on 01392 443020. Sites are:
Mary Tavy hydro electric power station, West Dartmoor: Thursday 8 Sep, Friday 9 Sep.
Pynes, Exeter: Friday 9 Sep.
Brokenbury Waste Water Treatment Works, Churston, Torbay: Friday 9 Sep, Saturday 10 Sep.
- RG
History of Exeter's drinking water
