We've started a £12 million investment to improve the resilience of the water supply network in east Kent.
Once complete, this project will see a total of 16 kilometres of new water main installed in the area in two phases over the next two years. It is an essential project which will ensure we can continue to provide top-quality drinking water in the east Kent area for decades to come. It will also provide us with the flexibility to move water around our network more easily at times of disruption.
The work is being carried out in two phases:
Phase 1 – Wichling/Doddington and Warren Street to Charing
Work began in April 2023 and is due to complete in Autumn 2023. A total of 2.7 kilometres of new pipe is being laid in the Wichling and Doddington area, and 5.7 kilometres from our service reservoir in Warren Street to The Pilgrims Way carriageway, Charing. Advance vegetation clearing works took place February. Further details on this phase are provided below.
Phase 2 – Charing to Potters Corner
This phase will see 7.4 kilometres of new pipeline laid between Charing and our service reservoir at Potters Corner. Further details on this stage of the work will be provided as the scheme progresses and the programme is confirmed.
The new water main is mainly be installed within private land utilising a combination of both horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching methods. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points. This method is being used to minimise the impact on the Pilgrims Way, a feature of national historic importance, as well as to protect environmentally sensitive areas and navigate other engineering challenges.
There are occasions when we need to lay pipeline within roads, and so we will need to close a number of roads as the scheme progresses as a safety precaution for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and our workforce. This page is being regularly updated with full details of these closures. There are also times when we need to close or manage numerous public rights of way.
The diversion routes are agreed by Kent County Council Highways, and clearly signed, but please be assured that access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.
Pipe routes
Did you know...?
Environment, Sustainability and Archaeology
We know that at this time of year is ripe with wildlife awakening from winter hibernation and habitats are teeming with new life. This is why we began to clear potential sites of vegetation ahead of the main works for the scheme starting before wildlife create nests for their young.
Specialist contractors remove vegetation and work with ecologists and arboriculturists to ensure nature is protected. When returning working areas to their original state after we have completed a section of work, we always aim to restore the environment to how it was or even enhance it if possible, for example with additional areas of planting.
As we cross private land for this project, we expect to come across a variety of habitats housing species such as dormice, Roman Snails and other species. Protecting the environments across the regions we serve is important to us, whether it’s directly looking after rivers and water sources, or ensuring habitats are undisturbed, or species safely relocated with appropriate mitigation when we work on our infrastructure.
We work closely with Natural England, ensuring we have the correct method statements and relevant licences to safely deal with any species we find. In one day, we found over 30 Roman Snails following a fingertip search of ground vegetation. These were relocated to a suitable habitat away from our working area.
We have a Roman Snail Protected Species Licence from Natural England to enable a licenced ecologist to move them if they are found during the works as otherwise it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to kill, take or disturb them.
Our project takes us close to a number of features of historic interest, such as the ancient trackway Pilgrim’s Way, the findspot of a Neolithic flint adze, an area of Romano British burials, the site of a 13th century pottery kiln, deneholes and the crash site or two World War II planes, a Messerschmitt Bf110C-3 and a Messerschmitt Bf109E-1, as well as passing near to historic settlements with historic buildings and farmsteads of medieval and post-medieval dates, so we have archaeologists keeping watch as we begin to clear the route for our pipework. They’ll be on hand to carefully recover any finds; due to the proximity of this revered route, we are expecting there to be some finds, and will provide an update if we do.
We have recently found and recovered items believed to be a piece of tile and parts of pottery suspected to be prehistoric. They will be sent for specialist analysis to establish more detailed information.
Reducing our carbon footprint
We keen to reduce our carbon footprint wherever possible, and so we've installed solar panels in our compound to run the main generator.
Diversion Routes, traffic management and footpath closures
Throughout the project, we will need to close public footpaths. We will keep these closures to an absolute minimum and will reopen them whenever possible. For details of footpath closures, please visit the Kent County Council(opens in a new tab) website. While the project does cross the Pilgrims Way, pedestrian access will be maintained along this important route at all times.
While the majority of our work is within private land, there will be occasions when we need to cross roads, or lay pipework along a section of road. To ensure the safety of the public and our workforce, we will need to close these roads, or use other forms of traffic management such as traffic lights, when we are working on them. Diversion routes, agreed with Kent Highways, will be in place and signed in advance of works.
With all road closures, these are a last resort and are carried out to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce. Our team will work as quickly and as safely as possible to reopen roads as soon as they can.
FAQs
Demand for water is growing alongside the population so we need to transfer more water to the area from other parts of our network. This new pipe provides us with greater flexibility to move water around our network at times of disruption.
This project will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network at times of disruption and so this does mean that when there are supply issues, it will be easier for us to reroute water from around the network.
The project was brought forward by a year as a response to last year’s difficulties to help improve the resilience of the network in this area. However, as we live in a water-stressed area, we do still need customers to be mindful and use water efficiently. Our draft Water Resource Management Plan sets out how we’ll provide a reliable and resilient supply of drinking water during the next 50 years. This can be found on our website(opens in a new tab).
The project will take place in two phases.
- Phase 1 – Wichling/Doddington and Warren Street to Charing
This will take place from April 2023 to Autumn 2023 and will see 2.7 kilometres laid in the Wichling and Doddington area, and 5.7 kilometres from Warren Street to Charing.
- Phase 2 – Charing to Potters Corner
This will see 7.4 kilometres of new pipeline laid between Charing and Potters Corner. The programme for this phase is currently being discussed.
The majority of work is taking place in private land. The new pipeline will be installed using a combination of horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching techniques. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points.
For phase one of this project, as a safety precaution for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and our workforce, we will need to close the following roads:
Doddington / Wichling area
- Ringlestone Road (outside the South East Water pumping station).
- Old Lenham Road (between its junctions with Lady Margaret Manor Road and The Street). Please note that although we will be drilling beneath this road rather than digging a trench, this closure will be required to allow space for the required equipment.
- Hopes Hill (between The Street and Seed Road).
- Seed Road (between Hopes Hill and The Street, Newnham).
Warren Street to Charing area
- Rayners Hill (outside South East Water’s Warren Street Service Reservoir, Warren Street).
- Hart Hill (between the A20 and its junction with Stonestile Farm Road).
- The Pilgrims Way (between the A252 Charing Hill and Toll Lane).
There will also be traffic management on the A252 Charing Hill. We will be laying approximately 400m of new pipeline within the carriageway and this will be carried out under temporary traffic lights.
Dates and durations for each of the road closures and the temporary traffic lights on the A252 Charing Hill will be advised closer to commencement of the works.
The diversion routes, agreed by Kent County Council Highways, will be clearly signed for the duration of the works.
While we know traffic management can be disruptive it is imperative we protect both the public and our workforce. Road closures will be kept to the minimum duration to minimise impact to customers and motorists.
We will also be required to close or manage numerous public rights of way as the scheme progresses.
Customers with additional needs be it a disability, mental health or financial concerns can sign up to our Priority Services Register to help us understand how we can help you. More information can be found at southeastwater.co.uk/priority.
This page will be updated as work progresses, but if you have any concerns during the work, the staff on site will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to speak to us direct, please call our Customer Technical Centre on 0333 000 1100 or email us at customerservices@southeastwater.co.uk
To register for free text or email updates about work in your area, visit inyourarea.digdat.co.uk/southeastwater
Downloads
- Information Pack(opens in a new tab)
- Doddington and Wichling Pipe Route(opens in a new tab)
- Warren Street to Potters Corner Pipe Route(opens in a new tab)
- Old Lenham Road Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
- Rayners Hill Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
- Hart Hill Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
- Old Lenham Road, Doddington - July Closure(opens in a new tab)
- Hopes Hill Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
- Seed Road Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
- Pilgrims Way Diversion Route(opens in a new tab)
How are projects planned?
Media updates
Project updates
Monday, 4 March 2024
17:03 PM
Our new pipeline is almost ready for use. We just need to complete the final electrical components of the work to ensure we can communicate effectively with the pipeline to optimise its operation once it has been brought into supply.
Friday, 12 January 2024
09:04 AM
With all pipeline now laid, the final stages of phase one require work within our land with no expected disruption to the public. The new pipeline will need to be tested and prepared for commissioning.
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
15:00 PM
Progress update
We are pleased to say that all new water main for phase one of this project has now been installed, with 5.6 kilometres of new pipeline now connecting our Warren Street and Charing service reservoirs and an additional 2.7 kilometres laid in the Wichling area.
This extra pipework will provide greater flexibility to move treated drinking water around our network in times of disruption. You may still see us around over the coming days as we finalise our work in phase one, which includes testing and commissioning the new main, returning the sites to their original state, and clearing our compounds.
We will be in touch with details of phase two soon.
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
15:55 PM
Warren Street to Charing
We’ve now laid 5.4 kilometres of new water main and have connected into Charing Reservoir. Just over three kilometres of new pipeline has now been tested. We are currently testing the next section, including the connection into the reservoir, ahead of commissioning the new main and bringing it into service. On Monday 18 September, work started in Pilgrims Way and excavations are well underway. All traffic management on Charing Hill has been removed and the road returned to its original state.
Wichling
We’ve now laid all new water main on the Doddington and Wichling section of this project and are awaiting testing. We’ve cleared our compound at Seed Road and have started excavations at Wichling Pumping Station.
Friday, 4 August 2023
06:21 AM
Temporary traffic lights on the A252, Charing Hill
From Monday 7 August for five weeks, temporary traffic lights will be in place on the A252, Charing Hill between Pilgrims Way and our site entrance. This is to enable us to lay a section of the new pipeline.
The speed limit will also be reduced to 30mph, to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce.
Monday, 31 July 2023
13:04 PM
Work continues to progress
We have now laid 4.9 metres of new pipeline between Warren Street and Charing, and 2km metres in the Wichling and Doddington area.
Work is continuing towards our Charing service reservoir, following completion on the small section of the Pilgrims Way. This includes a connection into Charing Reservoir, which has now been undertaken.
As part of the work to lay 425 metres of new water main at the A252 Charing Hill, a temporary speed reduction will be implemented along the road, with the speed limit being reduced to 30 miles per hour.
This has been agreed with Kent County Council and will be in place from Monday, 7 August for around five weeks, along with multi-way temporary traffic lights.
We will then move into the Pilgrims Way under road closure, with further details to follow.
Meanwhile, our next road closure in the Doddington section of the project is at Seed Road, Newnham, which is scheduled between Monday, 21 August and Wednesday, 30 August. The road closure is required for the safety of the public and our workforce.
We will continue to provide further updates on the work as our project progresses.
Thursday, 20 July 2023
11:00 AM
Pilgrims Way footpath reopens
We have now completed our work on the small section of the Pilgrims Way footpath near Maidstone Road and Hart Hill, with the footpath now open again.
This is part of our ongoing project laying new water main from Warren Street to Charing, with work continuing towards our Charing service reservoir.
Our next closure in this area will be next month when we carry out work to lay 380 metres of new water main at the A252 Charing Hill, from the entrance to the racecourse to the Pilgrims Way junction.
Work is due to start on this section on Monday, August 7, with a temporary speed reduction and lane closures under multi-way traffic lights also in place until Monday, September 11 as we lay the new pipeline.
Meanwhile, the next road closure in the Wichling and Doddington section of the project will be Seed Road next month.
We will provide further updates on the project as the work progresses.
Friday, 14 July 2023
14:30 PM
Progress on Pilgrims Way
We have now completed the drilling in Charing under the Pilgrims Way and will be continuing to work towards our storage reservoir.
As part of this phase of the project, we will be closing a small section of the Pilgrims Way footpath on Wednesday, 19 July for a short period.
Meanwhile, Hopes Hill has now reopened in Doddington after we completed our work to cross the road this week.
The next road closure in the Wichling and Doddington section of the project will be Seed Road next month.
We will continue to provide further updates as the project progresses.
Monday, 3 July 2023
15:00 PM
Good progress being made
More than 4km of pipework has now been laid as we continue to make good progress on the project.
Of this, 3km of pipework has been laid between Warren Street and Charing, with 900m laid at Doddington and a further 120m completed within Ringlestone Road.
We have successfully completed the two trenchless drills in Doddington, with open cut road crossings in Rayners Hill and Hart Hill also being completed. Drilling is now set to start in Charing under the Pilgrims Way to our storage reservoir.
The previously advised road closure at Old Lenham Road is no longer required this week, with the next closure being at Hopes Hill, Doddington, from Monday, July 10.
We will continue to provide further updates as the project progresses.
Monday, 17 April 2023
11:24 AM
Pipe laying set to begin
During some remaining vegetation clearance, we found two birds’ nests which might be active. We are now monitoring these nests closely but discreetly, using a range of techniques such as an ecologist watching for bird activity using binoculars from the ground, and flying over the nests with a drone to see if there are any eggs within them. If they are active, we will wait for the fledglings to leave the nest and make sure the nest isn’t being used for a second brood, before we access these areas to begin groundwork.
Topsoil has been removed from the pipe route for approximately one mile and counting, with welding crews preparing 500m of pipe ready for when excavations begin on 21 April. Our team will work over the weekend to kick start the main laying.
Monday, 10 April 2023
11:24 AM
Warren Street
Work is continuing at our Warren Street storage tank, with new equipment installed.
We’ve also installed solar panels to power our main compound generator and taken delivery of pipework.
Monday, 3 April 2023
11:24 AM
Setting up for the project
We’re setting up our compound to the north of the A252 Charing Hill and work has started to lay main away from our drinking water storage tank at Warren Street.
We have also been laying out the markers for the route of the new water main and the safe working area ahead of starting to clear the topsoil.
Monday, 6 February 2023
12:24 PM
Information sessions
Thank you to those who attended our information sessions for this scheme at Doddington Village Hall and Charing Village Hall, held by our project team. We're really grateful to those who made it to ask questions and raise concerns.
An information pack is available to download here(opens in a new tab) for those unable to attend.
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