'Portsmouth Water 1857-2007 150 Years of Service'

Following heaving rainfall Portsmouth's water supplies were described as looking like 'weak coffee' in the 1880s. Over the last 120 years there have been many improvements to supplies so that today our customers enjoy crystal clear water.

The story of how supplies have developed in and around the Portsmouth area over the last 150 years is covered in a new book published on Friday, 6th July. It explains how the Company overcame the 'weak coffee' descriptions and many other developments as well as the mergers and amalgamations that occurred through to the present day.

There are many key milestones:

·         The careful precautions needed to safeguard supplies during the Second World War

·         The major amalgamations and the need to develop new resources to meet rapid

·         Key events such as the Great Freeze of 1963, the Drought in  1976, the National Water Industry 
          Strike  of 1983 and the Great Storm of 1987

·         The impact of privatisation and the introduction of regulation during the 1990s

The book has been written by two staff and it relies upon not only the historical records but relates many of the tales from the staff and pensioners who have contributed to the Company's continuing success as one of the most efficient water companies in England and Wales.

The book is priced at £15 and is available from local bookshops and by contacting the Company by telephone on 023 9249 9888