Home / Environment / Kent Water Network Boosted by £50m Treatment Works
Kent Water Network Boosted by £50m Treatment Works
10 Jul
Summary
- A £50m treatment works is a vital milestone for Kent's network resilience.
- New Butler Water Treatment Works will supply an extra 20 million litres daily.
- Over 50,000 properties experienced water supply issues in late 2025 and early 2026.
A new £50m water treatment works in Aylesford, Kent, has been completed by South East Water (SEW), described as a vital milestone for network resilience. The Butler Water Treatment Works is designed to supply an extra 20 million litres of water daily to Maidstone. This upgrade aims to address increasing population demands and comply with abstraction reduction requirements from the Environment Agency.
The completion of construction in March represents a significant achievement in SEW's investment period. It follows recent supply issues where about 24,000 properties in Tunbridge Wells lost supply in November and December 2025, and an additional 30,000 experienced dry taps across the region in January 2026. The new facility will bolster water resources and improve infrastructure in areas affected by recent supply losses.
Further enhancing this capacity, SEW is planning approximately 35km of new water mains. These pipelines will connect the new site to existing reservoirs and pumping stations, with completion anticipated by 2030. This expansion will ensure a more secure and stable water supply for customers in Kent, both currently and in the future.
