Bristol Water supplies 300 million litres of drinking water to over 1 million customers in a 1,000-square-mile (2,600 km2) area centred on Bristol, England. It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991
Approximately half the water is taken from the Mendip Hills, particularly Chew Valley Lake, Blagdon Lake, Cheddar Reservoir and Barrow Gurney Reservoirs, with the other half is piped from the River Severn via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. There are 6,382 km (3,966 mi) of local water mains. Sewerage services in the Bristol area are provided by Wessex Water.
The company was formerly known as Bristol Waterworks Company, which was formed on 16 July 1846 by an Act of Parliament. On 5 October 2011, a subsidiary of Capstone Infrastructure Corporation acquired a 70% interest in Bristol Water from Grupo Agbar, who retained a 30% interest in the company. On May 10, 2012, a subsidiary of Itochu Corporation acquired a 20% indirect interest in Bristol Water. Today, Bristol Water is owned by Capstone Infrastructure Corporation (50%), Grupo Agbar (30%), and Itochu Corporation (20%) and is a plc with company number 02662226.
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There are ladies of honour that love him well,
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For he was in love with a charming milkmaid.”
—Unknown. Squire and Milkmaid; or, Blackberry Fold (l. 1–4)
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—Jacques Roumain (1907–1945)