Southern Water has announced it is investing £30m in modernising the network for Thanet, promising major improvements to residents water supply
The work will include £4m to speed up recovery times after incidents, with reservoirs refilled more quickly.
It follows a series of swimming bans on the area’s beaches because of concerns over water quality, the latest happening in June.
In April 2025 Southern Water pleaded guilty to 13 counts related to untreated sewage spills in Thanet, and in 2021 was fined £90m after being prosecuted by the Environment Agency for a series of sewage dumps.
The programme also includes £16m for new nitrate treatment schemes to enhance water quality, £3m to upgrade disinfection processes and upgrades to backup power supplies, control systems and communications.
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 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.”
Residents were more sceptical of the improvements, saying that whilst it was good to see improvements coming, £30 million is a literal ‘drop in the ocean’ when you see how much work is actually needed to overhaul the entire system for Thanet.
