Water shortage forces marina to pump in river water
A new 250-berth marina in Wiltshire is pumping water in from the River Avon.
The Caen Hill Marina, west of Devizes, is to be filled with 8.5 million gallons of water.
Following a dry summer and a lack of "spare water", the developer has had to resort to pumping extra water into the pound at Seend from the River Avon.
Neil Warren, development manager, said despite issues with water it was now full and being tested for leaks.
The new 13-acre marina is located at the base of the historic Caen Hill Lock Flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Six acres of the development is underwater and more than 60,000 tons of soil had to be removed to create the site's water basin.
"We had hoped to start filling the basin around the 8 August," said Mr Warren.
"But clearly there have been issues with water throughout the British Waterways network, not just here on the K&A, due to the dry spring and summer."
Tested for leaks
Filling the marina basin with 8.5 million gallons of water, taken from the pound at Seend, was expected to take eight days
"We needed to feed this pound with more water," said Mr Warren.
"So water was taken from the River Avon by British Waterways and pumped into the pound and the surplus water was allowed to lap over into our marina.
"Now it's being tested for leaks - which can take up to 14 days.
"But we are on course to be open for business by the beginning of October."
Plans for the marina, were unanimously approved by Wiltshire Council's eastern area planning committee in February 2010.
It will create an extra 248 moorings for boaters on the Kennet & Avon Canal.