Almost two million water quality tests will now be carried out each year following a significant expansion of South East Water’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Farnborough.
The drinking water company has secured a new contract with Southern Water to provide drinking water testing services for its customers.
The new partnership has resulted in a substantial expansion of the specialist facilities at their lab, including the creation of 30 new scientific roles. Testing for commercial operations will now double.
Deputy Mayor of Rushmoor Borough Council, Councillor Peter Cullum, helped unveil a plaque to mark the occasion. He was welcomed by South East Water Chief Executive David Hinton, Dr Neil Hudson, Head of Water Quality, and other team members.
Councillor Cullum said: “This facility represents a significant investment in the local community, with the creation of 30 new roles and a commitment to ensuring the highest standards of water quality for millions of people. We are proud to host this facility in the town.”
Dr Neil Hudson, Head of Water Quality at South East Water, added: “We are delighted to secure this new contract with Southern Water and be able to use our deep knowledge and extensive experience to provide a first-class water testing service for its customers.
“It is vital that our clients have confidence in their water quality and our UKAS accredited testing provides this reassurance to our clients that they are receiving top quality drinking water from their taps.”
The laboratory, based at Southwood Business Park, Farnborough in Hampshire, currently has a team of 90 microbiologists and chemists carrying out half a million water quality tests each year for South East Water customers, ensuring its tap water is among the very best in the world.
It also offers a bespoke analytical service to a wide range of businesses, including this new contract with Southern Water, which will see the number of commercial tests carried out by the team increase by 600,000 annually for Southern Water alone – resulting in 1.3 million commercial tests being completed each year
With the laboratory operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the team provides analytical services for microbiology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and radiochemistry. The new partnership will see them undertaking all testing required under the drinking water regulations for England and Wales for Microbiology, Cryptosporidium and Inorganic Chemistry, including testing for bacteria such as E. coli and Total Coliforms.
The laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025 by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) and meets the stringent regulatory requirements of the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
It first opened its doors over 30 years ago, with the current site operational from 2015, and now supports a wide range of businesses, including other water companies, blue chip firms, environmental health organisations, private water suppliers and building maintenance companies.
The contract between South East Water and Southern Water started on 1 July 2025 and covers drinking water only.
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