Customers of Bournemouth Water — and these are residents who live in area from Poole in the west to Beaulieu in the east and just south of Salisbury in the north — should in the future be assured of high quality drinking water.

The Bournemouth Water scheme will see both of the company’s water treatment works at Alderney and Knapp Mill upgraded with state-of-the-art technology.

As part of the £200 million investment Bournemouth Water will be combining the existing nature-based filtration system at the treatment works with a new innovative and sustainable treatment technology.

Construction began at the Alderney site earlier this year and is expected to be completed during 2025, while work at Knapp Mill is expected to start next year and be completed during 2026. In total, Bournemouth Water is investing £113 million at Alderney and £85 million at Knapp Mill.

Alongside improved drinking water quality, the advanced treatment process is more sustainable, uses fewer chemicals and generates less waste. The process will also generate fewer operating costs, helping to keep bills low.

The project follows three years of research undertaken by Bournemouth Water to identify the right solution to best meet the needs of the company’s 500,000 customers.

In addition, up to 200 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase, providing employment opportunities within the local community.

Richard Stanbrook, director of Drinking Water Services at Bournemouth Water, said: “We are excited to get work underway at Alderney and Knapp Mill as part of the significant investment we are making to upgrade both of our treatment works. The new technology will ensure customers across Bournemouth and Christchurch receive high quality drinking water into the future.

“This project has been three years in the making, giving us time to carry out extensive research to find the right solution to best meet the needs of our customers. We’re delighted to be bringing this technology to Bournemouth.”