'Emergency bacteria-zapper' installed at boreholes

Ultraviolet (UV) equipment to kill bacteria was installed in Shropshire without planning permission, after potentially harmful microbes were found in a borehole.

Planning documents lodged with Telford and Wrekin Council said Severn Trent Water acted on an emergency basis as a precaution to install the equipment.

The site in Waters Upton had permission for two more boreholes to be dug, but while awaiting licensing, non-coliform bacteria was found at the only operational borehole on site - called number three.

A spokesperson for Severn Trent said its teams had now applied for permission to install the UV system, which was a routine step to maintain water quality.

"In March 2023, borehole testing revealed low-level non-coliform detections within borehole number three," said a planning document lodged with the authority on behalf of Severn Trent Water.

It said further tests were undertaken and detections continued at Woodfield Borehole Pumping Station, before largely disappearing in 2024. However in July 2024, confirmed coliforms were seen again.

"As the site only has marginal treatment, borehole three was taken out of supply in July 2024 as a precaution," it added.

The document said public health advice had confirmed that the water source could not return to supply without finding or fixing the source of the detections, or installing treatment.

"The proposed UV kiosk is required to allow borehole number three to be brought into supply before boreholes four and five are ready," the documents continued.

Due to the UV kiosk exceeding 29 cubic metres of capacity, it would not be covered by development rights, and the company applied for retrospective planning permission.

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