South East Water has completed a major scheme to install a new £1.3 million strategic water main to secure drinking water supplies in East Kent.
The company has finished laying a new 6.5km long, 400mm diameter (16 inch) pipeline between the company’s Howfield pumping station, in Chartham, and its pumping station in Chilham.
The pipeline is able to deliver up to an extra eight million litres of water each day into the Ashford area. It also has the flexibility transfer drinking water back to the Canterbury area if required, creating a mini water grid in East Kent.
The strategic water main will ensure the water company can continue to supply top quality drinking water to both existing customers, as well as a growing number of new households in the town.
During the scheme's construction, engineers used a specialist technique called micro-tunnelling to lay a key section of the pipe under the railway line, adjacent to the A28. This avoided the need to dig in open excavations and associated disruptions to rail travel.
Paul Clifford, Engineering Manager, said:
“Our investment in this new pipeline is a vital step in not only securing robust water supplies for our existing customers in East Kent but also supporting the growth of new housing in the Ashford area.”
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.