£2m water works begin to install four-mile main (From The Argus)

£2m water works begin to install four-mile main

8:00am Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Features

A new £2 million scheme to install a new four-mile water main and upgrade water treatment in East Sussex has begun. South East Water’s new pipeline will be 6.4km long and 400mm in diameter, will enable the company to transfer water from its Water Treatment Works in the village of Friston to its storage reservoir at Folkington.

The new main is intended to deliver a more secure, robust water supply to both existing and future customers in the area.

South East Water delivery manager, Graham Webb, said: “It is vital that we can move water around our network to help manage water supplies.

“This flexibility helps minimise disruption to customers if we ever have a burst water main and during droughts it enables us to move water from sources with more water available to areas where there is |less.

“Once commissioned, this new water main, along with the upgrade of Friston Water Treatment Works, will help ensure that we can continue to supply clean, safe tap water to residents in the area.”

Construction started on Friday, April 2 both in Friston Forest and surrounding farmland.

South East Water has been working closely with the Forestry Commission and landowners ahead of the works, which are due to be completed in August.

Some public footpaths through the forest will have to be shut to keep people safe during the work.

Mr Webb added: “We know this area is extremely popular with walkers and horse riders, however, we need to ensure people’s safety which is why this difficult decision has been taken.

“We are working hard to ensure there will be plenty of signage ensuring people are fully aware of any footpath closures.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this work will cause residents, walkers and horse riders but hope people understand the need to carry out this scheme to secure future water supplies in the area going into the future.”

South East Water’s contractors will work Monday to Friday during daylight hours but there may be some activities at weekends.

Investment

South East Water is continually investing in pipes, pumping stations and treatment works to secure top quality water supplies across Sussex.

The company has just started its next five-year £390 million programme to develop new resources, extend and upgrade treatment works and lay new water mains.

This will enable the company to tap into more water supplies, treat more water and extend its regional water grid to move water around more easily to drier areas. Between 2010-2015 the investment will include:

• £54 million on reinforcing strategic water mains
• £75 million on renewing existing water mains
• £38 million on refurbishing water treatment works
• £45 million on installing meters for customers
• £10 million on improving tap water quality

This level of investment has been agreed with the water industry regulator OFWAT, which also sets the level of customers’ bills for the same period.

South East Water and its customers has achieved more than 99% compliance with standards set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.