The completion of the £50 million facility is a vital milestone, representing the first of several crucial infrastructure improvements by the drinking water company, aimed at bolstering the resilience of Kent’s water network.

The new treatment site is set to supply up to an extra 20 million litres of drinking water every day into the network. The water company says the major increase in capacity, coupled with additional projects planned in Kent, will help reduce the risk of future supply interruptions.

The project is vital for improving South East Water’s network resilience in the present, and securing a reliable water supply for the future across the water-stressed south east, including large towns such as Maidstone, and in the longer-term, Ashford and the surrounding areas.

The new water source has been developed following the closure of Aylesford Newsprint in 2015. South East Water acquired the water abstraction licence, after years of negotiation with the Administrators and Environment Agency. The utility says this type of licence transfer rarely happens and reflects the company’s desire to strengthen water resilience in the county.

Paul Lonsdale, Investment Delivery Director for South East Water, said:

“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.

“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.

“Butler Water Treatment Works will help balance our water resources in the county, boosting our infrastructure in areas that have seen loss of supply in recent years, securing water for customers now and for the future.”

Construction was completed in March, with the site producing drinking water to customers in the immediate area. Work is now underway to plan a crucial new strategic pipeline that will help move the new water, when required, across the water-stressed county of Kent.

Desmond Brown, Head of Engineering for South East Water, said:

“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.

“Once the ongoing pipeline projects have been completed, the treatment works will also deliver water to the Ashford area where the ever-increasing population will be met with a more robust and resilient water supply.

“We would like to thank our principal contractor, Murphy, for their tireless efforts on Butler Water Treatment Works. Murphy’s constant professionalism and hard work has been hugely appreciated. We would also like to extend our thanks to Clancy for the installation of pipelines to support the project.”

Dave Allin, UK Regional Director for Water and Process Engineering at Murphy, commented:

“Murphy is proud to have partnered with South East Water to deliver Butler Water Treatment Works, an important investment in Kent’s water infrastructure.

“Through our long-term Strategic Framework Partnership, we look forward to supporting the next phase of South East Water’s Capital Delivery Programme and helping to continue to provide resilient water supplies for future generations.”