More than £1.8m has been spent to upgrade the flood defence system at a Monmouth site which suffered damage in February 2020.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water says essential work to upgrade the assets at Mayhill Water Treatment works are now complete.

The site was severely flooded and inaccessible during Storm Dennis.

The work was carried out to ensure customers continue to receive a first-class water supply even in extreme circumstances.

,The work, which began last year included strengthening its flood barrier which surrounds the site along with upgrades to operational assets.

This included installing a facility which connects to surface water pumps to take away rainwater in the event of a flood, ensureing the site can continue to operate efficiently and provide clean drinking water to the local area.

During Storm Dennis, which occurred in February 2020, the water treatment works was severely flooded, resulting in police evacuating the treatment works.

A large number of properties in the area experienced low water pressure or no water at all.

Welsh Water employees worked throughout the day and night to keep customers in supply and deliver bottled water to households, care homes and the local hospital.

Stephen Harris, Welsh Water project manager, said: “Storm Dennis was one of the worst winter floods that we have experienced in recent times, causing a devasting impact on many of the communities that Welsh Water serve.

‘‘Our work at Mayhill Water Treatment Works is essential to strengthen our resilience and ensure that we can keep our customers in supply when faced with severe weather events like Storm Dennis.

“We always want to make sure our customers know what we are doing when we are working in their community, so we have engaged with the local school and written to nearby businesses and residents to tell them about the work.

‘‘We have also updated the In Your Area section of our website with the latest information.”

For more information about this work visit www.dwrcymru.com/InYourArea