Long Range Hill, Devonshire site to make way for a massive seawater reverse osmosis plant.

The project, including excavation, pipework, purchase of the plant and construction of a building to house it, will cost around $3.7 million.

Once installed, it is expected to produce up to one million gallons of water a day, Watlington Waterworks general manager Mr. Doug Fetigan said.

The plant is needed in order to supplement the water that the company draws from the Devonshire Lens, he said.

Watlington Waterworks currently supplies 220 million gallons of water a year to customers, he said, which is all drawn out of the Devonshire Lens.

Due to increased business and Government restrictions on the amount of water it can take from the Devonshire lens, the company had to look for an alternative fresh water source, he said.

Excavation is set to start in the next ten days with the plant expected to be up and running in about a year.

The Development Applications Board approved the proposal, submitted in January, subject to conditions on excavating and removal of mature palm trees on the site.

Mr. Fetigan said the plant would be sunken into the ground and should not be visible from North Shore Road.