Ground has officially been broken on the UK’s first new reservoir to be constructed in over 30 years – the Havant Thicket Reservoir.
More than 70 guests gathered on the site of the new reservoir, in Hampshire, to watch Chair of Ofwat, Iain Coucher, and Environment Agency Area Director, Simon Moody, mark the start of main construction works by putting spades in the ground.
They were joined at the official Ground-Breaking Ceremony by Chief Executive of Portsmouth Water, Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of Southern Water, Lawrence Gosden, and Esther Boafo, an apprentice working on the project, as well as pupils from local schools.
Havant Thicket Reservoir will play a crucial role in protecting two of Hampshire’s world renowned chalk streams – the River Test and River Itchen – as well as safeguarding water supplies across the South East for generations to come.
The flagship project will be built and operated by Portsmouth Water and paid for over time by Southern Water’s water supply bills.
Under current plans, Portsmouth Water customers would receive water from the reservoir during a drought. This would enable the company to share water with neighbouring Southern Water in the west, allowing less to be taken from the Test and Itchen.
Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Water, said:
“I am delighted to announce that work to create the new Havant Thicket Reservoir has officially begun.
“As well as breaking ground quite literally here on site, this milestone represents a ground-breaking moment for the water industry as a whole. This is the first major UK reservoir to be constructed in more than 30 years and I am incredibly proud that Portsmouth Water is delivering the project.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the scheme to date. It’s people who make projects happen and we are fortunate to have so many inspiring and dedicated individuals involved with ours.”
Separately, Southern Water’s Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project could further increase the benefit of the reservoir from 21 million litres of water a day to up to 111 million litres a day. Under these proposals, which are subject to additional consent, advanced treatment techniques would be used to turn fully treated wastewater into purified recycled water. This would then be added to the reservoir and, following further treatment to drinking water standards, be used for public supplies.
Lawrence Gosden, Chief Executive of Southern Water, said:
“This official launch of the Havant Thicket Reservoir project is an essential part of our plans to create a new resilient water supply for the South East.
“The new reservoir, and the planned Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project, will transform the way we source, treat and supply water across the county.
“It’s essential that we leave more water in the environment and protect Hampshire’s chalk streams, while also catering for climate change and population growth.
“Overcoming these challenges means developing new robust and resilient water supplies for us and future generations.”
Iain Coucher, Chair of Ofwat, said:
“This marks an important milestone on the journey to securing long-term water resilience for a significant area of southern England, whilst protecting and improving the local environment at the same time.
“It is leading the way as the first of a pipeline of major new water resource projects that are crucial to addressing challenges brought on by climate change and population growth.
“This project is a great example of how partnerships can deliver within the water sector, with companies and regulators collaborating to meet the needs of customers and the environment. The scale of this achievement cannot be overstated, as it sets a strong foundation for future progress.”
Once complete, Havant Thicket Reservoir will hold up to 8.7 billion litres of water, and (under current plans) supply 21 million litres per day in long periods of dry weather. This is in addition to being a new, green leisure hub for the area, with a visitor centre, wetland and network of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways.
The reservoir itself is being constructed by Future Water MMJV Ltd – a joint venture between leading civil engineering contractors Mackley and Jones Bros, which have a combined total of over 150 years of experience in tackling complex and challenging civil engineering schemes.
The associated pipelines which will be used to fill the reservoir with water and draw it down when needed will be installed by Ward & Burke Construction Limited, one of Ireland’s principal Civil & MEICA Engineering contractors with an outstanding track record for innovation.
In future, Havant Thicket Reservoir could supply even more water – an additional 90 million litres per day, on top of the 21 million litres of water that the current scheme will provide. This would involve using water recycling – a process already used in many other countries for decades.
