The drinking water plant in Jouhet was inaugurated last Thursday. Commissioned last year, it treats iron and manganese, which are naturally present in the area's groundwater. Although they pose no health risk, their presence could lead to deposits in pipes and slight discoloration of the water.
The plant, located next to the Chambon borehole which, along with the Roche well, supplies the 7,200 inhabitants of the municipalities of Montmorillon and Jouhet, was previously a simple pumping station with a chlorination system. It is now equipped with a sand filter that retains iron and manganese particles. It also treats organic particles released into groundwater during heavy rainfall, which can cause increased water turbidity.
The project, with a total cost of 1.8 million euros, took just over a year and a half to complete. The construction site faced significant constraints: environmental, to preserve the nearby borehole, and architectural, to protect local natural and built heritage. The station is indeed located in the Gartempe Valley and near the Château de Pruniers, both listed sites. Therefore, for landscape integration purposes, the station has the appearance of a local farm.
During the official inauguration, about thirty people were present, including Dany Hulin, mayor of Jouhet; Jean-Luc Souchaud, president of the Vienne et Gartempe Community of Communes and mayor of Montmorillon; Guillaume de Russé, delegate president for the department of Vienne; and Remy Coopman, president of Eaux de Vienne. The program included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the plant, a presentation of the work, official speeches, and a cocktail reception.
