Wessex Water has announced a £450,000 mains replacement scheme near Nottington, north of Weymouth, marking a major milestone of over £1 million invested in improving the water supply for communities across south Dorset.
The three-month project, which begins on Monday 1 December 2025, will see nearly a mile of ageing pipework replaced between Nottington and Buckland Ripers. The scheme aims to enhance water quality and ensure a more resilient supply network for customers.
This latest project follows the completion of a £200,000 mains upgrade along the B3157 at Portesham, and coincides with the start of a £400,000, five-month replacement programme on the A353 near Osmington, scheduled to begin in mid-November. Together, these initiatives bring Wessex Water’s total investment in the Weymouth area to more than £1 million.
Upgrading ageing infrastructure
Daniel Owen-Rijnenberg, Design Engineer at Wessex Water, said:
“By completing this replacement between Nottington and Buckland Ripers we’ll be able to reduce the disruption and inconvenience caused to customers by older mains bursting.
The new plastic pipes will provide a more robust and modern infrastructure, ensuring a better quality and dependable water supply for years to come.”
Preparatory works will begin from Monday 24 November 2025, with Nottington Lane closed to through traffic between Church Lane, Buckland Ripers and the northern entrance to Nottington village from 1 December to 27 February 2026. A diversion will operate via the B3157 (Chickerell Road, Chickerell Link Road, Granby Way), A354 (Weymouth Way), and B3159 (Dorchester Road).
To minimise disruption over the festive period, the road will reopen between 22 December and 5 January before closing again to allow work to continue until the end of February. Access will be maintained for residents, businesses, and farmers throughout the project.
Wessex Water has also written to local councils and customers in the area to advise them of the works and to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Investing for the future
This latest investment forms part of Wessex Water’s wider £160 million water supply improvement programme outlined in its 2025–30 Business Plan. The company’s long-term strategy includes new reservoirs in Cheddar and the Mendips (in partnership with Bristol Water and South West Water), a rollout of smart water meters, and a 20% reduction in leakage between 2020 and 2030.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, Wessex Water repaired more than 15,600 leaks across its network, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, reliability and customer service across the region.
