ALMOST 35 years after the taps were turned off at Cowm Reservoir, United Utilities is looking at recommissioning it as a water supply for Rochdale.

In July 1975 Rochdale hit the national headlines when the Whitworth reservoir was poisoned by pollution.

A pile of dumped tyres were set on fire in the quarry above the reservoir and pollutans seeped into the hillside and were washed into Cowm – at that time Rochdale's main source of drinking water.

After the incident questions were raised in the House of Commons.

A massive clean-up operation was mobilised where the mains had to be cleansed and supply tanker drinking water provided. Spring Mill Reservoir, two miles away, was used to make up the shortfall and maintain supplies to the Rochdale area.

Despite the clean-up, Cowm Reservoir remained off limits as a drinking water supply.

In the 1980s, the reservoir reopened as a water ski facility and has since become the northern training site for the British Disabled Water Ski Association.

Helen Wilson of United Utilities said: "Since 1975, we've been monitoring the water quality and it has slowly been recovering.

"We are now confident it has recovered completely, which is great news after all these years."

While the company is satisfied with the quality of the water, however, there are other issues to consider.

Ms Wilson explained: "It is not as simple as turning on a tap. It may be that the scale of the engineering issues involved would make it unfeasible to recommission the reservoir and that is what we are now assessing."

She added: "Whatever the outcome, this will not affect the water ski centre. They will still be able to continue using the reservoir, whether it is brought back into supply or not."

Lancashire Alderman Eileen Kershaw, who was mayor of Whitworth in 1975, said: "People first noticed something was wrong because of the taste, it was like drinking TCP.

"They were up in arms - it was in all the papers and on the news - and people were stoppping me in the street.

"It was a shame because Cowm was a good local source."

Mrs Kershaw added: "It would be good news if it could be used again and at the same time the disabled water ski centre continue there."