At an East Lindsey District Council executive board meeting, Burgh le Marsh representative Coun Neil Cooper suggested it could be abstracted by means of sinking a borehole below the ground at the Wood Lane site.


"It would cost about £7,000, plus the cost of a pump," he claimed.


Although it was agreed the idea should be explored, colleagues were sceptical, with Coun Colin Davie maintaining underwater supplies in this part of Lincolnshire were already under pressure.


Coun Ed Mossop doubted whether an abstraction licence would be forthcoming. He said: "The authorities don't like you getting money for nothing."


However, as part of a £284,000 package of efficiency measures, varous initiatives will definitely be adopted - for instance, harvesting of rainwater to flush the loos and the installation of an automatic lighting system.


It is thought this could save as much as £4.4 million in energy consumption costs over the next 30 years.


Other sustainable energy options such as a biomass boiler and solar panels have been ruled out as insufficiently cost effective.


Wind turbines have also been ruled out because ELDC is anxious not to spoil the outlook for neighbouring residents.

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