Affinity Water has completed a £2 million project to upgrade a key water treatment works near Acrise in Kent.

More efficient equipment has been installed in a new purpose built building and monitoring systems at nearby water sources feeding the works have also been updated.

 Affinity said the move will enable a secure long term high quality water supply to be provided from local chalk sources, improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

The Water Treatment Works is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the new building was designed in the style of a Kent farm building to blend into the countryside. The scheme also enabled access on an adjacent bridleway to be improved with the removal of an obstruction linked to the old treatment works.

Before work started on the treatment works upgrade an ecological survey was carried out showing that the construction of the new building within an AONB would have a minimal impact.

Affinity Water Senior Project Manager Richard Money said the scheme was part of a much wider investment programme, commenting:

“Continuous investment to improve and further develop our water network is needed. We have a major £34.5m capital investment programme underway in our Southeast Region for the five years to 2015 and a similar programme is being agreed for 2015-2020.

“This extensive rolling programme of work will both upgrade existing plant and bring on line new resources.”