Government is seeking a price tag for its water supply system at the West End, for a possible sale of the infrastructure to Watlington Waterworks.

That tentative deal was proposed under a 2010 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the company, which has a strong presence in the west, and Government, whose water resources are concentrated farther east.

Watlington Waterworks CEO Allan Rance said that whether or not the company bought the infrastructure would depend on the valuation, which Government has put out to tender, along with “other matters we have to discuss”.

“As part of the MOU, we agreed to lay new pipelines that would go up through parts of Somerset,” Colonel Rance added.

“Public water would be reorganised in the western half of the Island, and Government were to look at selling their western assets to us.

“This is part of that ongoing process.”

The system potentially up for sale covers the west end of Southampton and Sandys, serving 120 households and about 22 commercial facilities.

There are 31 fresh and brackish water wells supplying raw water to a treatment facility at Tudor Hill, which yields 150,000 gallons daily at top capacity. There are 15 kilometres of pipes carrying 27 million gallons from Government’s supply each year.

The news comes as Watlington Waterworks finishes its Somerset pipeline in accordance with the MOU.

“We just completed it a few weeks ago — the pipes are all joined up. We just have a few little projects to tidy up, loose ends,” Col Rance said. “Water is flowing through the pipelines.”

The Watlington network starts on South Road, Southampton, near the Henry VIII Restaurant, up to Barnes Corner, and follows Middle Road, crossing the cut at Somerset Bridge.

It follows Somerset Road into Somerset Village as far as East Shore Road, looping around Sound View Road and back to Somerset Road.

Col Rance said “quite a few” new customers were connected already.

The company plans to continue developing its water services in the West End.

Meanwhile, Government has set March 20 as the deadline for tenders to be handed in for the valuation of the western water assets.