Sutton and East Surrey Water is undertaking a significant redevelopment and upgrading of its Woodmansterne Water Treatment Works– the £22 million investment will help secure water supplies for existing and future customers throughout its supply area.

This important strategic project, which includes the creation of a new soakaway lagoon on nearby land, will provide greater resilience and flexibility within the company’s supply network, particularly during periods of low rainfall or drought.

The redevelopment and upgrading work at Woodmansterne WTW, parts of which date back to 1905, will effectively increase output capacity by approximately 50 per cent, helping SESW to meet increasing water supply demands as the local population increases.

Preparatory ground clearance and highway access to the new soakaway lagoon will begin in the autumn, with completion of this phase due in early 2016. Redevelopment of the treatment works site is set to start at the beginning of 2016. The overall construction project will take around 36 months to complete.

Meetings have been taking place with local elected representatives, residents’ groups, businesses and stakeholders to explain and discuss the redevelopment project, which has already been approved by the local planning authority.

SESW’s Project Manager Peter Isherwood, said the water company was continuing to work closely with the local community, Surrey County Council’s highways team and our project contractors, commenting:

“We are also very aware of local issues such as the retention of footpaths and suitable landscaping and, where possible, we will be aiming to help resolve such matters in a mutually acceptable manner.”