Hereford was the scene for the opening of Welsh Water's largest water treatment centre in England last Friday.

The works at Broomy Hill, just outside Hereford city centre, have been modernised and extended after a £15million investment by Welsh Water.

The improvements should meet the level of demands in the Hereford area for the next 20 years and minimise the amount taken from the Wye.

Existing equipment at Broomy Hill Water Treatment Work has been upgraded and filters installed to improve water treatment and the taste and odour of the water.

The works now provides drinking water for 110,000 people, supplying 57 million litres of water a day, the equivalent of 660 bottles of water leaving every second.

Welsh Water is owned by Glas Cymru, whose chairman Lord Burns said: "This works will supply our customers in Hereford and surrounding areas, including Ledbury and Leominster, with the highest quality drinking water. We are using a new generation of equipment to treat water to ensure that it is of a very high standard."

Hereford MP Paul Keetch, who opened the operation in Broomy Hill, said it was a crucial contribution to an essential service for Hereford and the surrounding area: "It ensures not only a quality service to customers, but that we have the most modern infrastructure in place to support future economic growth."