Members visited Severn Trent Water at Trimpley on August 5. The guided tour began with a talk and video.

One of the guides explained how rainwater is collected in reservoirs, rivers and bore-holes, then the water is taken into the water works where it is treated and distributed to customers.

Waste water is cleaned and returned to the rivers, with the residual sludge being made into fertiliser and sold.

All hazardous sludge is destroyed by incineration.

Members then saw how the water is drawn into the works from the river, and taken through numerous treatments until the final one, where the water is "polished" and chlorinated.

The guides said it is essential for people to drink a litre of water a day for their health.

The next meeting will be on Monday, at Stone village hall, when the competition will be for a photograph of a bird.

The meeting will begin at around 7.15pm.