Syleham Borehole Works

In collaboration with our partner G Stow. We’ll be drilling a new groundwater borehole next to our existing Syleham Water Treatment Works (WTW). This new borehole will provide additional raw water resilience and help improve the security of water supplies across the Suffolk area.

This Water Treatment Works sits within Essex & Suffolk Waters ‘Suffolk Bores’ Supply Zone. This is a supply area that relies almost exclusively on aquifer groundwater abstracted from boreholes.

The raw water supplied to Syleham Water Treatment Works is sourced from several underground water wells both on the site and from nearby locations. Like all infrastructure, these wells have a limited lifespan. To ensure a reliable supply in the future, a new borehole is proposed on land immediately to the east of the existing site to replace some of the older ones currently in use.

Phase 1 of the project involves drilling the borehole and is planned to start in June 2026, with completion expected by September 2026.

During this time, a temporary construction site will be set up on land to the east of the treatment works. You may notice construction equipment on site, including a drilling rig, crane, water tanks and welfare facilities.

Working hours will typically be 8:00am to 5:00pm. As drilling is taking place, there may be some noise at times, but we’ll keep disturbance to a minimum wherever possible.

Once the borehole has been drilled and tested, we’ll begin planning Phase 2 of the project, expected to take place in 2027. This later phase will involve building the supporting above‑ground infrastructure. You'll be consulted on these proposals through a separate planning application.

They'll be no impact to your water supply from these works.

Start Date: End of June 2026

Estimated End Date: Spring / Summer 2027 – Early 2028

Partners: G Stows

Investment Value: £2.8 million