Underground springs drive farm bottled water venture

FOR centuries the village of Harpham near Bridlington has been associated with mystical healing waters.

According to legend, its most famous well sprang to life when St John of Beverley rested his staff on the ground in 640AD.

Now the underground springs are supplying a new venture – bottled water.

Farmers Sarah and Peter Burdass first sank a 40-metre borehole at West End Farm for water for their farm and milk processing plant.

The idea for the business came when the Burdasses went to North Yorkshire to buy a new milk carton labelling machine for a new creamery at the farm, and the supplier told them about his water bottling plant.

Earlier this year they were given the go-ahead to market St Quintin's spring water after it passed rigorous health and environmental tests. But they are not allowed to make any other claims for the water other than its thirst-quenching effect.

Mrs Burdass said: "We didn't just come away with a labeller – we came away with a water bottling business.

"That was last September - it has taken us nearly a year to get everything set up properly, get the tests done and the water running absolutely crystal clear.

"The water table in Harpham is so high that we actually hit water at about 12 metres.

"The chalk has a wonderful filtering effect on the water which gives it a lovely clearness."

St Quintin's spring water will be available in local shops and restaurants, including Tickton Grange, near Bridlington.

The couple have already created six new jobs at St Quintin's Creamery, which started trading last summer.