Portsmouth Water is to hold a Supply Chain Engagement Event on 25th March ahead of embarking on a procurement programme to build the first new water storage reservoir in the UK since the 1980s.
The water company, in an innovative collaboration with Southern Water, is planning to develop Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire to secure vital drinking water supplies for the water-stressed South East and protect environmentally sensitive chalk streams. The reservoir is earmarked for a 160-hectare grassland site owned by Portsmouth Water and is scheduled to be operational by 2029. The utility will make an application for planning permission in 2020.
Image: Computer-generated image of finished reservoir.
As well as providing resilient water supplies, it will also create a new green leisure facility for local communities and a new wetland habitat for threatened species of birds.
The company is preparing to launch a procurement programme for several packages of works associated with the project – including reservoir construction, pipeline installation, MEICA (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation) works, environmental mitigation and leisure facilities with a visitors’ centre.
Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Water, said:
“We’re in a privileged position to be progressing the first water storage reservoir to be built in the UK for decades as the region’s water supplies are put under pressure by climate change, housing growth and the need to protect our natural environment.
“We’re very much looking forward to engaging with companies at all tiers in the supply chain who have an interest in delivering this project successfully for current and future generations. We’re also keen to maximise opportunities for local employment, as well as develop skills and leave a really positive legacy in our communities.”
The company is holding the Supply Chain Engagement Event on March 25, 2020, in Havant, Hampshire, for all tiers of the supply chain, when it will brief local, regional and national suppliers on the plans for the reservoir and associated works.
Suppliers will have an informal opportunity to engage with the company, explore opportunities to be involved and share feedback on the proposals.
Bob Taylor added:
“We want to ensure our approach maximises market interest and value, as well as ensuring we can benefit from innovation and community involvement.
“This is a flagship project for the South East and it’s likely to be the first of several significant water resource infrastructure developments in coming years, so for this reason we’re keen to start early dialogue with suppliers with relevant experience.”
One of the oldest water companies in the country, Portsmouth Water serves 316,000 homes and businesses in West Sussex and Hampshire, supplying around 170 million litres of water to more than 720,000 people at the lowest cost in England and Wales. The water it supplies is derived from the chalk of the South Downs and is abstracted from wells, boreholes, springs and the River Itchen. The springs at Havant and Bedhampton are thought to be the largest group of springs used for public supplies in Europe.
Portsmouth Water already shares up to 30 million litres of water each day with neighbouring water company Southern Water and has plans to share a further nine million litres from 2024 and a further 21 million litres upon completion of the reservoir.
Havant Thicket Reservoir is earmarked for a 160-hectare site in Havant, Hampshire which is owned by Portsmouth Water. At 1.6km from east to west and 0.8km from north to south, it will hold approximately 8,700 million litres of water, and able to supply up to 21 million litres of water each day. It will be filled in the winter from surplus water pumped from the Bedhampton springs in Havant.
Deadline for registration to attend the event is March 13, 2020 - click here to register for the industry day.
Click here for more information about the reservoir
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Börger UK, which has firmly established itself as a leading pump brand since it was set up in Staffordshire in 2004, has moved into bigger, brand-new premises in Shrewsbury.
HUBER Technology UK & Ireland are inviting people to register for their March webinar where they will be providing information about HUBER water intake screens for municipal and industrial applications.
Sulzer has launched a new global Center of Excellence (CoE) for Water Treatment Solutions - the CoE consolidates Sulzer’s wastewater treatment expertise in a unified and global manner.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.