Folkestone and Dover Water

Folkestone and Dover Water supplies water services to 64,300 households in South East Kent.

Folkestone was one of the first towns in the county to have a public water supply operated under the powers of the Waterway Clauses Act 1847.

Folkestone Waterworks Company was formed in June 1848. In 1989 Folkestone Waterworks was bought by General Utilities (now known as Veolia Water). The name was changed to Folkestone & Dover Water Services Limited in 1992.

Folkestone and Dover Water's parent company, Veolia Water, also owns two other water supply companies in the South East of England - Three Valleys Water and Tendring Hundred Water. Together, these companies provide 900 million litres of water a day to a population of 3.2 million. They employ around 1,050 people and have a total turnover of £186 million.

Folkestone and Dover Water employs 84 staff working on the distribution network, in their water treatment works and in their office in Folkestone.

Folkestone and Dover Water is a water only supplier, so Folkestone and Dover Water customers will have their sewerage services supplied by Southern Water.

As two separate companies provide water and sewerage services, Folkestone and Dover Water customers may receive separate bills for each service or Folkestone and Dover Water may bill them for both services and collect the money on behalf of the sewerage company.

To be classed as wholesome, water must comply with the water quality standards set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989.

In 2003, 7,672 tests were carried out on samples taken by Folkestone and Dover Water. 99.92% of these tests complied with the Regulations (source: http://www.dwi.gov.uk).

Folkestone and Dover Water is generally a hard water area. However, water hardness levels can vary within each area. Folkestone and Dover Water can provide you with further information about water hardness in your particular area.