Bournemouth water upgrades backed by modular tech firm

A major upgrade of Bournemouth’s water treatment works has been boosted by a Royal award recognising the technology being used locally.

RSE, the company supplying modular water treatment units to Bournemouth Water, has been named a recipient of The King’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation. The honour recognises the company’s work developing off-site fabricated systems which are now in use across the region.

Bournemouth Water has already installed 70 of RSE’s transportable ceramic membrane treatment units at Alderney Water Treatment Works, with another 70 scheduled for Knapp Mill in the coming months. The projects are part of a £200 million programme to modernise and future-proof local infrastructure.

Richard Stanbrook from Bournemouth Water said: “RSE’s modular technology will play a key role in how we deliver new treatment capacity more efficiently and sustainably at our Alderney and Knapp Mill Treatment Works.”

By using off-site manufacturing, RSE’s systems reduce the environmental impact of construction while helping speed up delivery. The firm’s units are made in the Highlands of Scotland before being transported and installed in Bournemouth.

Construction at Alderney is nearing completion, with works at Knapp Mill due to begin shortly.

RSE’s Andrew MacDowall said: “Bournemouth Water has been an early adopter of RSE modular plants and lead the drive to change how treatment plants are built and upgraded across the UK.”