A NEW state-of-the-art £7.1million water treatment works could soon be pumping water to Axbridge, Cheddar, Brent Knoll, Draycott and the surrounding area. Bristol Water wants to develop the hi-tech water treatment and pumping station on a site in Cheddar

A NEW state-of-the-art £7.1million water treatment works could soon be pumping water to Axbridge, Cheddar, Brent Knoll, Draycott and the surrounding area.Bristol Water wants to develop the hi-tech water treatment and pumping station on a site in Cheddar Road in Axbridge.The new development will take 30million litres of water a day from the River Axe to supplement water taken from Cheddar Reservoir which gets its water from the Gorge.Bristol Corinthians Yacht Club, based at Cheddar Reservoir, is supporting the plans. Commodore Paul Hipwell said: "It is good news for the local area and will help Bristol Water get more secure supplies. We will be very supportive if the plans go ahead."Bristol Water submitted a planning application to Sedgemoor District Council last week to replace the temporary works which are already there.The new works would make use of an advanced technology called Actiflo. It uses tiny grains of sand which stick to any dirt in the water, making it heavier so that it is easier and quicker to remove.The new treatment works will also be able to filter more water during November and April each year, this has been difficult to do in the past because more nutrients are found in water during the winter months.The cleaner, extra filtered water will then go to a number of places as well as Axbridge and Cheddar, including Brent Knoll, Draycott and Wells.If planning permission is given building on the site will start in April next year. Bristol Water spokesman Paul Kelson said: "The new treatment works will replace the existing temporary treatment works and will be constructed on the same concrete base so it will be the same size. "We're hoping the work will be completed by early 2008.