The installation of the new pipes under the seabed in the Solent was the final stage of a £15 million scheme to secure vital water supplies for the future.

The undersea pipes were made by NKT Flexibles, a specialist company in Denmark, with a lining to meet standards set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the organisation which monitors the quality of drinking water in the UK.

They were ordered in November 2005 and finally arrived in the UK in April 2008.

The pipes are surrounded by several layers of steel reinforcing bands, which means they are flexible but also have a high level of protection from the elements on the seabed or accidental damage

This is important because in 2000 the existing main was damaged by a ship’s anchor and had to be repaired at a cost of £1 million.

Flow meters installed on both sides of the Solent will monitor the amount of water leaving the mainland and arriving on the island to identify any leaks.