Distillation

The first distillation used for the production of water was in 1956 when a vapour compression distiller was constructed at Hesses Pumping Station. This plant produced distilled water, which was blended with the well water to produce a water of more acceptable quality. The plant was not very successful. In 1964 a small 182 cubic metres per day vertical tube multi stage flash distiller was installed at Kings Bastion Electricity Generating Station and used waste heat from the generators' diesel engines. The water so produced was pumped to the blending tank at Hesses and from there to the Waterworks. The plant came to the end of its useful working life in 1976.

In 1969 a 909 cubic metres per day long tube multi stage flash distiller was commissioned. The plant was situated opposite the North Face, at Devils Tower Road, with its sea water intake at Eastern Beach. This plant pumped water direct to Waterworks. The plant came to the end of its working life in 1984.

In 1973 a vertical tube evaporator using enhanced heat transfer tubes designed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was installed on reclaimed land at the North Mole. The water from this plant was pumped to Hesses blending tank and from there to Waterworks. The plant came to the end of its operational life in 1984.