Atkins, the UK’s largest engineering design consultancy, has been appointed to a number of Wessex Water’s workstream framework agreements for the AMP5 investment period, including the water company’s largest ever new mains project, the Water Supply Grid.

The Water Supply Grid will be built over an eight-year period with an estimated £75 million expenditure expected in the first five years of the scheme. It will involve the construction of 100km of trunk mains to improve security of water supply to customers across Wessex Water’s operating area.

Atkins is designer for the grid and will work with Wessex Water and its construction partners to address environmental issues and develop design solutions. The new project will include pipelines, reservoirs and the construction and refurbishment of more than 20 pumping stations.

Atkins is also designer for one of Wessex Water’s two Networks workstreams. The workstream, covering clean and wastewater pipelines, includes new and replacement water mains and sewer upgrades to reduce flood risk and pollution incidents. It will also provide first-time mains sewerage to new developments as well as to rural communities previously off network.

Jim Hale, client delivery director at Atkins, said:

“The Water Supply Grid will give customers greater protection against the risk of major disruption should there be a pipeline failure or low river flows, particularly during the UK’s long, dry summer months. Atkins is working with Wessex Water and its construction partners to devise high-level outline designs in these early concept stages and will take these through to construction.”

Stephen Parrett, general manager for engineering and construction services at Wessex Water, said:

“We are looking to Atkins and our other partners to provide innovative, cost effective solutions.”