RESIDENTS in a West Somerset village have been receiving bottled water supplies after the reservoir which served them became polluted.

East Quantoxhead only has about 50 properties, all of which are owned by the Luttrell family’s East Quantoxhead Estate, a holding which dates to 1078.

Water for most of the village is supplied from the estate’s reservoir on the Quantock Hills to the south.

But planning agent Jon Colvin, of Greenslade Taylor Hunt, said: “This supply has become contaminated and as a precautionary measure the residents of East Quantoxhead have been provided with bottled water for drinking and cooking.”

Mr Colvin said it was a situation which Somerset Council’s environmental health team was keen to see resolved.

He said: “There are only two options, the upgrading of the existing supply or a connection to the public water main.

“The latter option was explored but the cost involved was prohibitively high.

“The estate’s preferred option is to introduce a modern treatment plant into the system which will safeguard public health.”

Now, the estate trustees have applied for planning permission to build a 188 sq ft single-storey water treatment building and two water storage tanks off Higher Street, East Quantoxhead.

Mr Colvin said: “The proposed system has been designed to remove sediments, heavy metals, and bacteria from the water.

“Water storage tanks are included within the design to ensure continuity of supply.

“The filtration and UV equipment for the water treatment system must be enclosed in a secure building to prevent unauthorised access and to protect the system from freezing.

“The proposed building is modest in scale with a slate roof and timber clad walls.

“The building’s appearance will mellow rapidly and will not be visually intrusive when seen from the high-level footpath on top of the Quantocks to the south.”