A water works built to quench the thirst of Lancastrians during the roaring 1920s is getting a major makeover in the 2020s.

Hodder, built near Slaidburn village in the Forest of Bowland in 1927, contributes to the tap water enjoyed by people from Longridge, through Preston to Blackpool.

Now water company United Utilities is spending £23m upgrading the site to make sure the works continues to meet rising standards and the challenges of climate change.

Water Production Manager Chris Baker said 147 stacked Bells pressure filters which had served the population for almost 94 years were being removed, to make way for eight new state-of-the-art rapid gravity filters.

“The works was built at the same time as Stocks Reservoir because the quality of water up here in the north Pennines is so good. Over the years most of the site has been modernised, but the Bells Filters have been here since day one! They’ve done well but the time has come to replace them to carry on providing great quality drinking water to our customers,” he said.

Building work involves squeezing the huge new 5m deep filters onto the cramped site while the existing filters are still in place, continuing their 90-year-job of treating Stocks water right to the very end.

To make things even more complicated, strict COVID hygiene processes have to be adhered to by everyone working on site.

Added Chris: “Myself and the team are really excited and privileged to be a part of this major landmark project in the life of this historic and fascinating place, which will guarantee our customers many more decades of reliable service.”