Bristol Water to invest £66m in upgrades to drinking water network

Bristol Water is investing around £66 million in improvements to the pipes, treatment works and reservoirs that supply drinking water across the region.

The four-year programme will focus on maintaining and upgrading key parts of the network, including filters, tanks, pipes and treatment processes, as the company looks to strengthen the resilience of its water supply.

Bristol Water said the investment is designed to reduce interruptions for customers, improve reliability and help the system cope with pressures including hotter summers, heavier rainfall and population growth.

The programme will include upgrades to water treatment works, the installation and replacement of pipes, improvements to water meters, and work to protect reservoirs so water remains cleaner before treatment.

As part of the investment, 130 miles of pipe will be replaced across the network — roughly the distance from Bristol to Newquay.

Several major treatment works upgrades are already underway. Cheddar Water Treatment Works is receiving £6.5 million for improvements to filters and UV treatment, which purifies water without affecting taste.

A further £23 million is being invested at Stowey Water Treatment Works, where new filters will be installed to use fewer chemicals and make the process more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Littleton Water Treatment Works will receive £25 million for the same advanced technology.

Bristol Water said the upgrades will increase the amount of drinking water that can be cleaned at any one time, helping the network cope during periods of high demand such as heatwaves.

The company is also investing £5.75 million to safeguard raw water storage at sites including Blagdon Lake Tower, Pucklechurch Service Reservoir and Barrow.

Reservoirs play an important role in protecting water quality, with well-maintained storage helping water arrive at treatment works cleaner and requiring less processing before it reaches customers’ taps.

Richard Stanbrook, General Manager for Drinking Water Services at Bristol Water, said:

Much of the investment we are making in Bristol from 2025-2030 takes place out of sight, so customers understandably want to know how it benefits them. When you hear a large investment figure, it’s not always obvious what that means in day-to-day terms.

These improvements are about protecting the reliability and quality of our water supply. They help ensure water continues to flow as it should, tastes as it should, and remains resilient during periods of extreme weather, both now and for the future.