Poor quality water in Wellington has stopped a new water bottle refill station in the town centre from being used.

The refill point in High Street was installed by Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) in February.

Town councillors were told at the time Wessex Water would need about two weeks to carry out water testing before it could be used.

SWT also fitted water bottle refill stations in Minehead and Taunton which are now in use.

But nearly six months later the Wellington refill station has remained covered up and unused.

Wessex Water told the Wellington Weekly that it was still trying to resolve ‘adverse test results’.

Town Council Clerk Dave Farrow said: “Wessex Water have identified what is causing the adverse test results and are hopeful it will be resolved soon. We have been assured that it is a high priority for them.”

Wessex water spokesperson Peter Orchard said: “Like all our tap water refill points, the unit in Wellington is being tested weekly to ensure the very highest standard of water quality. “This rigourous process has to be done before the unit can be made available for public use. We are hopeful this will happen soon.”

SWT’s water bottle refill programme was introduced as part of its repsonse to climate change. The programme will help cut down on the use of single use plastic bottles of which, seven billion are thrown away every year.