South East Water has commissioned its new £50 million Butler Water Treatment Works in Aylesford, Kent, adding extra drinking water capacity to its regional network.
The new treatment works will supply up to 20 million litres of drinking water a day, initially supporting Maidstone and the surrounding area. In the longer term, South East Water said the site will also help supply Ashford and nearby communities once strategic pipeline works are completed.
The company said the project is the first of several major infrastructure improvements planned to strengthen water supply resilience in Kent.
New treatment capacity for Kent
Butler Water Treatment Works has been built on the former Aylesford Newsprint site. South East Water acquired the abstraction licence linked to the site after the paper mill closed in 2015, following negotiations with administrators and the Environment Agency.
The company said this type of licence transfer is unusual and forms part of its wider work to secure additional water resources in a water-stressed region.
According to South East Water’s Butler project page, the site uses boreholes around the former Aylesford Newsprint site to supply raw water to the treatment works, where it is filtered, disinfected and prepared for distribution.
“The completion of Butler Water Treatment Works marks a substantial step forward in our commitment to providing a resilient water supply in the Kent region for generations to come,” said Paul Lonsdale, Investment Delivery Director for South East Water.
“This is the first of a number of large engineering projects outlined in our Business Plan that we will deliver for our customers as part of South East Water’s largest and most ambitious investment period to date.”
Pipeline plans to move water across the county
Construction of the treatment works was completed in March, and the site is now producing drinking water for customers in the immediate area.
South East Water said planning is now under way for a strategic pipeline that will allow water from Butler to be moved across Kent when required. The company said the pipeline will help improve supply resilience in areas that have experienced interruptions in recent years.
“We are incredibly proud of our new Butler Water Treatment Works, which will help ensure a more reliable supply of wholesome drinking water to our customers in Maidstone and surrounding areas,” said Desmond Brown, Head of Engineering for South East Water.
South East Water said principal contractor Murphy delivered the treatment works, while Clancy installed pipelines supporting the project.
“Murphy is proud to have partnered with South East Water to deliver Butler Water Treatment Works, an important investment in Kent’s water infrastructure,” said Dave Allin, UK Regional Director for Water and Process Engineering at Murphy.
More information is available on South East Water’s Butler Water Treatment Works project page.
FAQs
Where is Butler Water Treatment Works?
Butler Water Treatment Works is located in Aylesford, Kent, on the former Aylesford Newsprint site.
How much water will the new treatment works supply?
South East Water said the site will supply up to an extra 20 million litres of drinking water per day.
Which areas will benefit from the new site?
The works will initially support Maidstone and surrounding areas. In the longer term, planned pipeline works are expected to help supply Ashford and other parts of Kent.
Why was the site chosen?
The former Aylesford Newsprint site already had water infrastructure and an abstraction licence, which South East Water acquired after the paper mill closed.
