A £19MILLION state-of-the-art water treatment works is expected to bring some of the best quality drinking water in Europe to Pendle residents.

The new multi-million pound scheme being embarked on by United Utilities will begin this month.

And bosses say it will mean residents in Barrowford, Nelson and Colne will be able to enjoy crystal clear water provided on tap.

The works at Ridgaling will replace an existing plant at Barley and will serve 40,000 people.

The present works have served the community since 1912 but need to be replaced as they are too small to accommodate the necessary treatment processes to meet new standards.

Project manager Phil Johnson said: "The scheme is great news for families in the Pendle area as they will soon be able to enjoy better quality drinking water.

"The existing works at Barley has served our 40,000 customers well but this new scheme will allow us to treat water to even higher standards."

Work on an access track to the site from Ridge Lane will start soon with construction work starting in August.

The project is expected to take 18 months to complete with construction traffic, limited to a 20mph speed limit, following an agreed route.

The company says it has worked closely with Pendle Council to keep disruption to a minimum.

An annual report by the Drinking Water Inspect-orate this week showed the North West's tap water passed 99.92 per cent of quality tests.

United Utilities head of drinking water, Frank White, said huge improvements had been made in the region over the past five years.

He added: "The task of upgrading our largely Victorian network is enormous.

"We appreciate more work needs to be done and that's why we are increasing our investment to more than £1billion in this area between now and 2010."