Ageing water mains will be renewed in 76 streets in a town over two years.

The work in Deal, starting on July 11, will replace pipes that are reaching the end of their working life, to help make sure there is a continued supply of water.

Southern Water says this also gives a chance to identify and remove any risk of lead in the network, further ensuring a quality water supply for householders.

Most mains themselves are made of cast iron, ductile iron or polyethylene, however, there may be lead fittings or pipes between the main and the properties. The company explains that exposure to lead can be harmful to health, so it is trying to keep lead levels in drinking water low.

Kevin Fausset, senior project manager for Southern Water, said: “It’s more than just replacing water mains. While undertaking this work we will be searching for and removing old lead elements within the network.

“We will be replacing the water mains along with any communication pipes, which run from the water main up to the boundary of a property that are lead based.

"While we’re doing the work, if we find that a customer’s supply’ pipe contains lead then we can replace this free of charge as well if they’d like us to. This is normally the responsibility of the property owner.

“This is a trial and if it is successful, we’ll scope to undertake similar schemes in other areas where higher levels of lead in the network are predicted.”

Guy Franklin, head of water quality compliance at Southern Water, adds: “Deal is a historic town and with large numbers of properties built pre-1970, we know that it is likely that there is lead present – especially in customers’ supply pipes.

“Stringent procedures are standard practice across the UK and are undertaken by all water companies to minimise impact of lead pipe work on water quality.”

Southern Water will work with contractors Clancy Docwra and will try to minimise impact on residents and visitors. Work will be carried out road by road rather than all at once, minimising impact to each set of residents to around two weeks. The total length of the scheme is 24 months.

Southern Water adds that it apologises for the disruption this work does cause.

The streets affected are:

Alfred Row, Alfred Square, Anchor Lane, Ark Lane, Beach Street, Beaconsfield Road, Blenheim Road, Brewer Street, Bridge Road, Broad Street, Bulwark Road, Cannon Street, Capstan Row, Century Walk, Chapel Street, Clanwilliam Road, Clarence Place, College Road, Coppin Street, Crown Court, Deal Castle Road, Dolphin Street, Douglas Terrace, Duke Street.

Enfield Road, Exchange Street, Farrier Street, Five Step Alley, George Alley, George Street, Gilford Road, Golden Street, Golf Road, Griffin Street, High Street, Hope Road, Ivy Place, King Street.

Market Street, Middle Street, Nelson Street, New Street, North Street, Northcote Road, Northwall Road, Oak Street, Out Downs, Park Street, Peter Street, Portebello Court, Prince Of Wales Terrace, Princes Street, Ranelagh Road, Robert Street.

Sandown Road, Silver Street, Sondes Road, South Court, South Street, St Andrew’s Road, St David’s Road, St George’s Passage, St George’s Road, St Patrick’s Close, St Patrick’s Road, Stanhope Road, Stanley Road, The Avenue, The Marina, Union Road, Victoria Parade, Victoria Road, Water Street, Wellington Road, West Street, Western Road.