en.Wedoany.com Reported - South East Water has inaugurated the newly completed Butler Water Treatment Works in Aylesford, Kent, with a total investment of £50 million, adding drinking water supply capacity to the regional network.

The treatment plant can supply up to 20 million liters of drinking water per day, initially serving Maidstone and the surrounding areas. South East Water stated that once the strategic pipeline project is completed, the plant will also supply water to Ashford and neighboring communities. This is the first of several major infrastructure improvements planned by the company to enhance water supply resilience in Kent.

The Butler Water Treatment Works is built on the former site of the Aylesford Newsprint mill. After the paper mill closed in 2015, South East Water negotiated with the administrators and the Environment Agency to acquire the water abstraction license associated with the site. South East Water noted that such license transfers are uncommon and are part of its overall efforts to secure additional water resources in water-stressed areas. The plant uses a network of wells around the former paper mill to source raw water, which is then filtered and disinfected at the treatment facility before distribution.

Paul Lonsdale, Investment Delivery Director at South East Water, said the completion of the Butler Water Treatment Works marks a significant step forward in the commitment to providing reliable water supply for generations in the region. He stated that this is the first of several major engineering projects planned in its business plan, to be delivered as part of South East Water's largest and most ambitious investment period to date.

The treatment plant was completed in March and has already begun producing drinking water for local customers. Planning is underway for a strategic pipeline that will allow water from Butler to be transported across Kent when needed, helping to improve supply resilience in areas that have experienced disruptions in recent years. Desmond Brown, Engineering Director at South East Water, said the new Butler Water Treatment Works will help provide more reliable, high-quality drinking water for customers in Maidstone and the surrounding areas.

Main contractor Murphy delivered the treatment plant, while Clancy installed the pipelines supporting the project. Dave Allin, UK Regional Director for Water and Process Engineering at Murphy, said the project represents a significant investment in Kent's water infrastructure.