£30m Investment for Kent Customers

Affinity Water has been given the go-ahead by water regulator Ofwat for a major £30m five year investment programme in the Folkestone and Dover area.

Ofwat has today (4 April) given Affinity Water's Business Plan for 2015-2020 its highest recognition of "Enhanced" status, enabling an early start to be made on the plans.

Affinity Water is one of only two water companies to be granted this status by the regulator.

Chief Executive Officer, Richard Bienfait, said: "Today's announcement is very exciting and we are delighted that Ofwat supports our plans to serve our customers and communities.

"This decision means we can start early to implement these plans, which include a stretching target to reduce leakage over the next five years and abstracting less water from underground sources, to leave more water in the environment."

The £30m investment programme will include:
Building an additional new underground storage reservoir near Folkestone
Further investment in trunk mains across the area
Green measures to reduce environmental impacts
Maintenance and enhancement of sources, pumping stations, water treatment works and underground service reservoirs
A rolling mains replacement programme
Affinity Water will make the investment while at the same time keeping prices below the rate of inflation for the full five year period.

The company will also offer a new tariff, Li£t, specifically designed to support customers on low incomes, who are struggling to pay their bills.

For more details on Affinity Water see www.affinitywater.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:

Philip Bosley
PHB Public Relations
T: 01580 852 500