This important wastewater treatment works consists of Pitsford reservoir and a large treatment facility. It was opened by the Queen Mother over 53 years ago. Prior to Pitsford reservoir being built many Northamptonshire villagers had to collect water from a pump.
The 'Ruthamford' system using Pitsford Reservoir together with Grafham Water and Rutland Water is implemented to supply other areas of East Anglia. This system exports water to areas as needed.
The owner of this facility is called Anglian Water and they provide services to over 6 million customers from residential, commercial and industrial backgrounds over the East of England. Wastewater, regulated water and environmental services are provided.
Also Anglian Water manage the water for Hartlepool in northern England.
Wikipedia describes the reservoir in detail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitsford_Water
'Pitsford Water is a reservoir in Northamptonshire, England. The reservoir was built in 1956 to supply the town of Northampton, which is about 6 miles to the south. The water is the third-largest in the United Kingdom, with a surface area of 2.85 square miles. Operated by Anglian Water, the reservoir is near the village of Pitsford, from which it is named. It is also close to Brixworth village and Brixworth Country Park. The northern half of the reservoir is designated as a nature reserve, but Pitsford Water is also used for sailing, birdwatching and fishing.
Pitsford was granted funding from the Millennium Commission, which enabled the creation of Brixworth Country Park, including a cycle hire/shop, a restaurant, many activities and play areas for children. This has brought many people to the reservoir enjoying walking and cycling alike. There is a 7 miles (11 km) waterside track for foot or cycling around the main section of the reservoir, including a pathway along its dam.'
Wikipedia describes Anglian Water:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglian_Water
'Anglian Water is a privatised water company that operates in the East of England. Named for East Anglia, apart from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire it also covers Lincolnshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, a small part of north Nottinghamshire and Greater London around Upminster. Anglian's catchment areas are essentially between the Humber and the River Thames, including the River Great Ouse.
It currently provides water for 2.6 million properties, and covers an area of 27,500 square kilometres. In 1997 Anglian took over Hartlepool Water.
The Treatment plant
The treatment plant takes the water from the reservoir, which acts as a settlement tank, allowing sediment to drop and water quality to stabilise.
The raw water is first treated by ozone to start to break up any organic matter, and as a first stage against cryptosporidium. Coagulants are added, to increase the weight of any suspended solids in the water.
The water then passes into the bottom of several cone shaped vessels (clarifiers) and as the water rises through the clarifiers, the velocity of the water slows down till the sediment within stops and forms a layer, that prevents further solids passing.
The rising water, is collected from the top of the clarifiers, and then passes through anthracite, sand and garnet filters, removing any solids that got past the clarifiers.
The water is then pumped though a second ozone treatment stage, and then through granulated activated carbon Adsorbers; these act to remove any taste and odour from the water and also some pesticides.
Chlorine is then added and it passes through a large tank to give the necessary contact time with the chlorine to make the water safe to drink (at this stage the chlorine is monitored over the tank, as an indication of water quality).
Ammonia is added, to give a longer life to the chlorine and Phosphoric acid, to prevent lead leaching out of customers pipes.
Before the water leaves the works, it is continuosly monitored 24/7 by electronic water quality instruments.
Cryptosporidium incident
On 25 June 2008, Anglian Water found traces of Cryptosporidium in water supplies of Northamptonshire. The local reservoir, Pitsford, was investigated to find a rabbit which had strayed into it, causing the problem. About 250,000 residents had to boil their tap water for 10 days, until the source was found and removed, and more than a thousand miles of pipes were cleaned and flushed. By 14 July 2008, 13 cases of cryptosporidiosis attributed to water in Northampton had been reported. Following the end of the investigation, Anglian Water lifted its boil notice for all affected areas on 4 July 2008. Anglian Water revealed that it will pay up to £30 per household as compensation for customers hit by the water crisis.'
Following this incident Anglian Water installed a UV treatment plant at Pitsford which will remain for the foreseeable future.