Spades in the ground at Havant Thicket

The start of the physical construction phase of the new Havant Thicket reservoir was signalled last week as ground was ceremonially broken at the site.

The innovative project is being built and will be operated by Portsmouth Water, but funded by Southern Water customers through their bills as the water stored will be supplied cross-border. This is to enable Southern to meet requirements to abstract less from Hampshire’s chalk streams while catering for a growing population in a less predictable climate.

Under current agreed plans, Havant Thicket will hold up to 8.7bn litres of spring water, and supply 21m litres per day. This could increase in future, subject to consent and permissions, to an additional 90m litres per day, if the spring water is supplemented with super treated recycled water under Southern’s Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project plan.

Bob Taylor, chief executive of Portsmouth Water, said: “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.”

Along with water supply, the reservoir will be home to a new green leisure hub for the area, featuring a visitor centre, wetland and network of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways.