A MAJOR £70million overhaul of a water treatment works in Christchurch is taking shape.

Bournemouth Water say the utility firm’s project at Knapp Mill will create 200 jobs.

The company has been set a deadline of March 2026 to complete the work by the Drinking Water Inspectorate after the regulator listed the site adjacent to the River Avon as an ‘aged asset.

Bournemouth Water has already obtained an initial screening opinion from BCP Council ahead of an imminent full planning application submission to BCP Council.

Richard Stanbrook, Bournemouth Water’s director of drinking water services, said: “We’re delighted to be undertaking a major £70m investment project, improving the Knapp Mill Water Treatment Works.

“Once complete, the state-of-the-art improvements will bring a range of benefits for our customers, safeguarding water quality and resilience, utilising more energy efficient processes and reducing our abstraction on the River Avon “All while creating around 200 jobs in the construction phase, supporting our local supply chain.”

Parts of the existing works at Knapp Mill, which first opened in 1897, are more than 100 years old, which led to the ‘aged asset’ designation.

Bournemouth Water said while still “perfectly safe”, the water treatment process used at the site with slow sand filters is outside and needed investment to safeguard future water quality.

The planned upgrades would use an “innovative membrane” process which is said to provide enhanced water treatment, operational expenditure savings and improved environment performance.

The current facility will continue to operate until after the new process improvements have been constructed, commissioned, and operated for a period, to ensure there are no disruptions or discernible differences in taste and odour to the drinking water supplied to customers, Bournemouth Water said.

The proposed works will be located on land at the northern end of the existing Knapp Mill site.

Bournemouth Water held an information event for residents at Twynham Primary School earlier this year.

The firm hopes its planning application will be determined later this year, with construction starting next year.

Mr Stanbrook added: “We have recently consulted with customers on the proposed improvements and we will continue to proactively engage as the project progresses.”