Village gets mains water century after post-war pledge

Residents of a village in northern France are preparing for their first taste of fresh piped drinking water – 100 years after they were promised a connection to the mains network at the end of World War One.

The 350 residents of Sains-lès-Marquion, Pas-de-Calais, are the last in the Artois-Picardy basin to be hooked up to a mains supply.

Between 1918 and 1927, most municipalities in the area received grants to build a distribution network via a water tower, but Sains-les-Marquion was not among them.

Instead, some 20 wells were dug and residents were promised that work to connect the village to mains water would start later.

A century on, the village remained unconnected as there is a good water source beneath the village so residents have pumped and filtered their own supply. Guy de Saint-Aubert, who was born in the village and has been mayor since 1995, following his father who was mayor for 40 years before him, is relieved that work can start at last. He said: “I have done this for future generations so they can be assured of a clean water supply.”

However, he says this is in many ways a step backwards, not forwards. “Villagers have looked after their own supply and there have never been any health problems.

“It is only an issue now as the general quality in the water table declines, due to pollution and lowering levels.

“Up to 20 years ago, we did not have this problem. I remember a time when the local river was full of pike and other fish and the water was clean. Now I cannot guarantee a good quality of water from our own wells.”

He said he did not want people to think his village is backwards because it has depended on its own supplies until now.

“In other countries it is much more acceptable. We buy our pumps and filters in nearby Belgium because there they are easily available in the DIY stores,” he said.

“It is a sign of a healthy environment to be able to use your own water.”

The mayor finally asked for the village to be connected about 20 years ago but it was only this year that the €1million needed was made available.

Work is scheduled to end in spring although it remains to be seen whether the 158 homes will all be connected, as it is not mandatory and paying a water bill could be a “culture shock”, he said.

The site manager said: “For the moment, everyone is telling us they want to connect. We’ll celebrate the first glass of water.”