Council contractors will begin work on Chertsey’s new water treatment plant on Monday, 10 February.

The work involves building a new plant about 180 metres from the existing bore at Chertsey School and sections of King Street and Alexander Street (at the back of the school) will be closed while the work is under way.

The road closure will not affect access to Chertsey School and will be in place until 13 September; Council has been speaking with the school and nearby landowners about the work.

The new treatment plant will have cartridge filtration and UV disinfection and ensure the supply meets national drinking water standards.

Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said there was no room to expand at the old treatment plant, which was on the school grounds.

“The town’s bore will remain at the school and water will be piped about 180 metres up the road to the new treatment plant.

“The new plant will be much bigger to accommodate the extra equipment and it will also have a new generator, and we will double the existing water storage by adding two more reservoir tanks.”

Chertsey’s water comes from a deep 145m well.

The new water treatment plant site being built on part of an unformed part of Alexander Street, and Council has legally repurposed the land for infrastructure.