FOUR new water boreholes in and around Bordon are expected to provide Hampshire with an extra eight million litres of water per day. South East Water (SEW) is now set to install two strategic water mains to help transfer water from new underground boreholes. The boreholes – two at Southlands Industrial Park in Latchford Lane, Bordon, and two at Oaklands Farm, Green Street, East Worldham – will mean the company can tap into additional water supplies which are stored deep underground in natural aquifers. However, before the boreholes can open, SEW needs to build new pipelines linking the boreholes to its existing Oakhanger Water Treatment Works (WTW). It will then be fully treated and put into the company's supply network and sent to customers' homes. Gordon Percy, technical manager at SEW, said: "The pipelines are part of an important project which will ultimately help us provide enough water for our customers, now and in the future. "They will also allow us to more easily move this extra water around to where it's needed most, especially at times of peak demand for water, such as during the drier summer months. "And while all our resources are fully recovered from the drought, we are not complacent and so continue to invest in finding new ways to supply additional water for our customers". In two separate schemes, the company will install a 1.7km long, 350mm diameter (14 inch) diameter pipe between Southlands Farm and Oakhanger WTW; and a similar size 3km long section between Oaklands Farm and the same treatment works. The vast majority of both pipelines will be laid across farmland and environmental mitigation work, such as hedge clearance, and archaeological surveys have already been carried out. This will ensure the pipeline construction does not adversely affect any wildlife while also protecting the wider environment. Construction of the pipelines is due to start in December and will be completed by spring 2008, ready for the boreholes to begin pumping the extra water into supply in time for next summer. The scheme is part of South East Water's planned investment up to 2010 to help further protect long- term water supplies, and provide more flexibility for its regional water grid.