Wessex Water South Dorset water supply upgrade has reached completion, with a £400,000 water main replacement project east of Weymouth now finalised.
The scheme forms part of a wider £1.2 million programme of investment aimed at improving water supply resilience and reducing leakage across the South Dorset area.
Wessex Water South Dorset water supply upgrade replaces ageing infrastructure
The completed works involved replacing a 50-year-old section of water main along the A353 between Poxwell and Osmington. The existing pipeline had become increasingly prone to bursts, leading to disruption for local customers.
Construction began in November under rolling traffic management, paused over the Christmas period, and resumed in early 2026 before reaching completion in April.
A similar upgrade project near Nottington, on the opposite side of Weymouth, was also completed in March, forming part of the broader regional improvement programme.
Improved reliability and water quality for local communities
The new pipeline is expected to deliver a more reliable water supply and improved water quality for customers in the surrounding area.
Wessex Water confirmed that challenging ground conditions extended the construction timeline slightly, but work was completed with the aim of minimising disruption and restoring normal road access as quickly as possible.
Final road reinstatement works are scheduled to take place in May, with temporary overnight closures in place to complete resurfacing along the affected route.
Supporting long-term leakage reduction and resilience
The investment supports Wessex Water’s wider strategy to reduce leakage by 20% between 2020 and 2030, while improving network resilience across its operating region.
It also aligns with the company’s broader £160 million water supply investment plan for 2025–2030, which includes new reservoirs, smart metering deployment and infrastructure upgrades designed to strengthen long-term water security.
For more infrastructure updates, visit our Water Management coverage.
