Bournemouth Water is inviting local residents to a community information evening to hear the latest updates on its £85 million project to upgrade Knapp Mill Water Treatment Works.
The drop-in event will take place on Wednesday 10 September 2025, from 5.30pm to 7pm at Twynham Primary School, Marsh Lane, Christchurch. It will give residents the chance to meet the project team, ask questions, and learn more about how the investment will benefit local communities now and in the future.
In June, Bournemouth Water completed the first phase of work and prepared the site ready for construction to begin.
The works form part of Bournemouth Water’s £200m investment in infrastructure programme and is designed to modernise and future-proof its water system.
Once complete, the upgraded site will use advanced technology to deliver more sustainable and more reliable drinking water for customers across the region. The improvements will also enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and increase resilience against the challenges of climate change.
Progress so far
Works to upgrade Knapp Mill have been progressing well with further vital improvements made over the last few months.
The site’s new ceramic membrane treatment units, which were pre-built off-site to minimise disruption, have been delivered and the first units are now being installed on site.
In addition, Bournemouth Water has constructed a dedicated loop road to safely manage the arrival and movement of large delivery trucks. This road will keep all delivery activity within the site and off nearby public roads, to minimise disruption to the public.
The next stage of works will focus on installing large pipework to connect new treatment buildings, alongside further landscaping to integrate the upgraded site into its surroundings. This work is ongoing and is due to be completed in Spring 2026.
The upgraded facility is on track to start delivering water to households across Bournemouth by Spring 2026, boosting Bournemouth Water’s treatment capacity and improving the resilience of water supplies across the region.
A commitment to the community
Bournemouth Water’s community engagement evening builds on the success of a similar event earlier this year and forms part of the company’s wider approach to engaging openly with local residents.
Jamie Elliot, Senior Programme Manager at Bournemouth Water, said:
“This is a significant investment in the region’s water supply, and we want people to understand both the benefits of this work and the steps we’re taking to minimise disruption.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far at Knapp Mill and would encourage people across the region to come and meet us to find out more about what is happening on site.”
Read more information about our investment in Knapp Mill.