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49 minutes ago BBC Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire is not expected to be completed until 2034 Stuart Rust South of England Work has started on pipelines to serve the UK's first major new reservoir in decades - after the project's estimated cost more than doubled to over £800m. Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire is now not expected to be completed until 2034, later than originally planned. Portsmouth Water, which is building the reservoir, said the rise was partly down to an extra pipeline added to "future-proof" the project, as well as unexpected ground conditions beneath the site.
The additional pipeline would serve a proposed water recycling scheme, which could see treated sewage piped into the reservoir and has proved controversial with campaigners. Laying the two pipes will involve 1,250 individual sections The reservoir was originally designed as a seasonal water store, but under the plans, treated waste water from Budds Farm would be piped in then taken out for further treatment before being supplied to customers. The project is a partnership between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, whose customers the reservoir will supply.
Ben Ring, managing director of capital projects at Southern Water, said: "Introducing new technology is never without its challenges, but this is tried and tested technology around the world." Laying the two pipes, which will run between Bedhampton Springs and the reservoir, will involve 1,250 individual sections and is expected to take three years. Bob Taylor, chief executive of Portsmouth Water, said the extra pipeline meant streets would not need to be dug up again if the recycling plans were approved. He said the project would "take longer than we originally planned, but we will make every effort to try and reduce the extent of additional time".
Regulator Ofwat is currently consulting on increased funding for the project. Once complete, the reservoir will hold about 8.7 billion litres of water and is designed to protect the rare chalk streams of the rivers Test and Itchen. More on this story Related internet links
Source: BBC
