Wessex Water has completed a £2 million sewer infrastructure upgrade in Poole, increasing network capacity and helping to protect the town’s coastal environment.
The scheme, delivered over seven months in the Whitecliff Harbourside Park area, involved the installation of more than 200 metres of new rising main, replacing an existing pipe serving a large part of the local network.
The upgraded system connects to a nearby sewage pumping station that supports around 80,000 people across the Poole area, ensuring it can meet growing demand from population and development pressures.
Poole sewer upgrade improves capacity and resilience
The new rising main was installed along Wedgwood Drive, Sandbanks Road and Whitecliff Recreation Car Park, forming a critical link within the wider sewer network.
A section of the installation required works beneath the busy Sandbanks Road, which was temporarily closed between late October and early December to enable safe pipe installation.
The project also included the use of a temporary overland bypass system to maintain service continuity while the final connection to the existing network was completed.
Additional measures were introduced to minimise disruption, including temporary parking arrangements and the installation of pipe bridges, steps and an access ramp to maintain pedestrian access to Whitecliff Recreation Ground.
Supporting environmental protection and long-term infrastructure needs
The upgrade is expected to significantly improve sewer capacity and reduce the risk of system overload, helping to protect the surrounding coastal environment.
Mike Horton, project manager at YTL Construction UK, said: “This was an important scheme to ensure sewer infrastructure in this area of Poole could continue to meet the demands of a growing population and we’re delighted to complete it on schedule.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to finish it, often coming up with innovative ways to ensure the impact on the local area was reduced as much as possible. The work will also help protect the environment by significantly increasing sewer capacity.”
The project was delivered by Wessex Water’s construction partner, YTL Construction UK, and forms part of the company’s wider investment programme to strengthen infrastructure resilience across the region.
Further details on the scheme are available via the Wessex Water website, along with a project overview video on YouTube.
For more infrastructure updates, visit our Sewage Management section.
