Ground has officially been broken on the UK’s first new reservoir to be constructed in over 30 years. Once complete, Havant Thicket Reservoir will hold up to 8.7 billion litres of water.
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.
Portsmouth Water CEO Bob Taylor 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.
Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden commented:
“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.”
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 water supply bills.
Under current plans, Portsmouth Water customers would receive water from the reservoir during a drought. This would enable the company to then share water with its customers in the west of the Southern Water region, allowing less to be taken from the Test and Itchen.
Meanwhile, the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project could further increase the benefit of the reservoir - from being able to supply 21 million litres of water a day, to reaching up to 111 million litres a day.
Under the 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.
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