South East Water is progressing a number of projects to install new pipelines in its region, including planning for a significant investment to improve the resilience of the water supply network in east Kent.

The project, which is part of the utility’s ongoing programme of investment to improve its water supply network, will see a total of approximately 16 kilometres of new water main installed in east Kent in two phases over the next two years. This will provide the water company with the flexibility to move water around the network more easily at times of disruption.

The work will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1 – Wichling/Doddington and Warren Street to Charing

This will take place from April 2023 to Autumn 2023 and will see 2.7 kilometres laid in the Wichling and Doddington area, and 5.7 kilometres from our service reservoir in Warren Street to The Pilgrims Way carriageway, Charing.

Phase 2 – Charing to Potters Corner

This will take place between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 and will see 7.4 kilometres of new pipeline laid between Charing and the company’s service reservoir at Potters Corner. Further details on this stage of the work will be provided as the scheme progresses.

The new water main will predominately be installed within private land utilising a combination of both horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching methods. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points. This method is being used to minimise the impact on the Pilgrims Way, a feature of national historic importance, as well as to protect environmentally sensitive areas and navigate other engineering challenges.

Other current pipeline projects include:

• An investment of £700,000 to replace approximately 900m of ageing, burst-prone water main in Clayhill, Rye. The existing pipeline has suffered 21 bursts within the last five years, resulting in low pressure or no water. Work is planned to start on Monday 27 February and is expected to take 26 weeks to complete.
• A £300,000 project to replace approximately 150 metres of burst-prone pipe which currently runs beneath residential properties in Farnham. The old pipe will be taken out of commission once the new asset is installed. Construction is planned to start on Monday 27 February and the project is expected to take approximately 10 weeks to complete.
• An investment of £95,000 to replace approximately 130m of water main in Uckfield, where part of the current main is no longer fit for purpose. South East Water will be using directional drilling to replace a section with a brand new pipe to prevent water quality issues. The project is scheduled to begin on Monday 6 March, and will take approximately seven weeks to complete.
• An investment of £250,000 to lay approximately 90m of new water main to reinforce the water supply network in Ashford. Work is scheduled to begin on Monday 6 March and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.
• An investment of £85,000 to replace 200 metres of burst-prone pipe in Wokingham. Construction started on Monday 23 January and the project is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete.