A £700,000 project to replace a major water main in west Dorset will begin this month.

Wessex Water will be removing 1,200 metres of ageing pipes with new plastic ones between the villages of Litton Cheney and Puncknowle.

The company claims that the work will help to protect the water supply feeding homes and businesses in the area.

During the project, nearly three-quarters of a mile of a major trunk main running through this rural section of the county will be replaced.

Wessex Water says that plastic pipes are being used to help 'maintain the integrity' of the water supply for years to come. 

The work is part of a wider project to replace more than two miles of the main in the area, with further improvements set to follow in the coming years. 

Getting under way on Monday, July 24, the replacement will take about 20 weeks and is expected to be finished around the start of December. 

Wessex Water said it spends about £12million each year to replace older water mains within its network, which spans more than 12,000 kilometres. 

Wessex Water project manager Nathan Storey said: “This is a major trunk main that helps to feed west Dorset and we are looking to replace 3,500 metres of the main in total split over this scheme and at least one more. 

“This particular project will take place entirely within fields, using both open-cut methods and directional drilling which means we can limit the impact on local people because we are not working on local roads. 

“Repairing a main like this means our customers will be able to enjoy improved water quality and a more reliable supply and helps reduce problems caused by leaks from ageing and degrading pipes.’’  

The company added that it spends £16million a year on managing and reducing leaks and repaired nearly 15,000 between April 2022 and March 2023.