by Nick Lillitos
nlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

There won’t be a dry mouth in the place should a drought hit – people will be celebrating in their homes with drinks all round. Some two million gallons of it.

With open spaces turning parched it will still be a case of water, water, everywhere.

The water will be coming from an out-of-sight reservoir 'hidden’ under a man-made mound with a grassy knoll roof, just like the camouflaged bunkers of the Second World War.

It is being built due to predictions that the population of Aylesford is set to grow from its current 25,000.

Built near Maidstone Hospital, in Hermitate Lane, the reservoir will be the size of four Olympic swimming pools and supply people living in Aylesford – a town identified to grow in population, placing increased pressure on utilities.

Work began last July and is well as 34,000 tonnes of earth have been removed to form its giant basin.

Supporting the huge roof will be 48 concrete columns some 5.5 metres high.

Altogether some 6,000 tons of concrete are being used to form the floor, walls and the columns.

The scheme is part of the company's £390 million investment in new water mains.