The Edwardian reservoir, which was built in 1902, is buried beneath an earth bank and stores water pumped into Ipswich from boreholes at Whitton before sending it on to homes and businesses.
Project Manager, Matt Humphrey, said:
“The reservoir is an amazing piece of construction. From the outside it just looks like a large, grassy bank but underneath is a huge concrete tank.
“It’s a massive space, supported by rounded steel columns, and holding 21 million litres of water. We have had a look around inside using a remote camera but we can’t wait to actually get inside and have a look around for ourselves.”
The inspection will only be possible once the reservoir has been drained down, a process which will begin on September 19. The first task will then be to remove 6,000 tonnes of topsoil from the roof and replace it with a layer of stones on top of a new waterproof membrane. Inside, the work involves a deep clean for the reservoir and a thorough check and repair of any damage to the 109-year-old tank, its supports and pipework.
Anglian Water is holding a public exhibition at the site today for interested stakeholders to view the plans.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
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.
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