SES Water has successfully completed crucial improvement works early, which required the closure of a section of the A22 Godstone Road in Purley.

The work involved digging a 300m long trench through the centre of the road to lay the new mains water pipe, an operation which required months of extensive prior planning and stakeholder engagement.

As part of the company’s current AMP7 Business Plan, it has pledged for 100% of properties in its supply area (280,000) to be supplied by more than one treatment works by 2025, which will reduce the risk of supply failures and help move water from one area to another, more efficiently.

The completion of the works will directly benefit 27,000 properties in the Purley and surrounding areas and vastly improve the resilience of the local water supply network. The project formed part of a £45 million programme of investment over a 15 year period from 2010 to 2025. The Purley works were crucial in ensuring 100% of properties in the supply area are supplied by more than one treatment works.

SES Water Wholesale Director, Tom Kelly said:

“We’re delighted to have completed this crucial piece of resilience work early and within budget enabling us to re-open the A22 road again to local residents. Closing a road as busy as this is never going to be without disruption but we’re grateful for the patience and co-operation of local residents and businesses throughout the closure. Residents will soon be able to be supplied by more than one treatment works, meaning the risk of future supply failures to local homes is reduced.”

Visiting the site last week, Croydon Councillor, Cllr Gayle Gander the works in Purley were needed to provide greater resilience into the water network, by reducing the risk of failure supply and SES Water and their contractors had consulted closely with ward councillors, alongside residents associations, businesses and others affected by the closure.