AGEING sewers have been replaced and old water mains renewed in Dorset during the first year of Wessex Water’s £1bn investment programme to improve services.

The company’s recently published annual results reported good progress with the early phase of its new programme, which will last until 2015.

“Nowhere was our customer service and the dedication of our staff more visible than during the winter of 2010/11,” said chairman Colin Skellett.

“Our staff and contractors worked for lengthy periods to ensure that bursts and leaks were identified and repaired as quickly as possible.”

The company remains the industry leader in Ofwat’s new league table for overall customer satisfaction. Last year 98 per cent of customers who contacted Wessex Water rated its service as “good” or “very good”.

It continues to be one of the most efficient water and sewerage companies and the savings made over the past five years meant customers bills five per cent lower in 2010/11.

“While our customers pay slightly higher than average bills due to the rural make-up of the area we serve, independent surveys show customers say they get good value for money,” said Mr Skellett.

Improvements by the company have involved replacing sewers that have served homes in Dorset since the Victorian era among more than 5km renovated during a 12-month programme. Roads and homes were protected from disturbance due to innovative key-hold repair techniques.

Across the region the firm has invested £50m on water supply improvements which have involved replacing 38km of mains and renovating a further 8km.

Work is now underway on a multimillion pound project to improve the security of supply and meet demand over the next 25 years.

“The water supply grid will be the largest scheme we have ever carried out and will include new trunk mains, new service reservoirs and new and refurbished pumping stations across Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire,” he said.