Southern Water is investing more than £30 million to reinforce Thanet’s drinking water network over the next five years, aiming to deliver more reliable, high‑quality supplies for customers across Kent.

The programme will see major treatment upgrades, the replacement of around 30 kilometres of ageing water mains, and modernisation of power, control and communications at water supply sites.

The investment includes:

- £16 million for new nitrate treatment schemes to enhance water quality

- £3 million to upgrade disinfection processes in line with tighter regulations

- Targeted improvements at key sites to reduce discolouration and improve water quality at Wingham

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- A £4 million+ programme to speed recovery after incidents, enabling reservoirs to be refilled more quickly

- Upgrades to backup power supplies, control systems and communications to reduce outages

Separately, about 36 kilometres of pipework across the wider Kent area, including Thanet, has been earmarked for replacement to cut leakage and improve network efficiency.

This work forms part of Southern Water's wider £8.5 billion five‑year investment plan, which includes £1.2 billion in Kent, with £130 million set aside for the company’s largest water supply works in the county.

Director of Water Operations at Southern Water, Tania Flasck said: "Having a reliable water supply is crucial for our customers, especially as we see hotter, drier summers and increasing demand across Kent.

"We know customers in Thanet have experienced supply interruptions in the past, and this investment is focused on strengthening the network to reduce that risk.

"This £30 million programme will help make our water supply more resilient, so we can continue to provide a dependable service for homes and businesses now and into the future."