A major milestone is being reached in the construction of Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire, with tunnelling work set to begin for two new pipelines serving the site.
Portsmouth Water will mark the start of the work at the reservoir site, north of Havant, on Thursday, 24 September.
The tunnels will be used to construct two pipelines – one to carry water into the reservoir and another to take water out for treatment and supply to customers when required.
Portsmouth Water says tunnelling has been chosen to help minimise disruption to local communities and reduce the environmental impact of the work.
Havant Thicket Reservoir is the first major new reservoir to be built in the UK for decades and is intended to help secure future water supplies across the water-stressed South East of England.
The project is also designed to help protect Hampshire’s River Test and River Itchen, two internationally important chalk streams.
Portsmouth Water chief executive Bob Taylor and Southern Water Major Projects Director Ben Ring are among those due to attend an event marking the start of tunnelling.
The event will also see the winners announced of a competition involving local schools to name the tunnel boring machines, with the winning children expected to attend.
Around 70 guests and stakeholders involved in the reservoir project are due to be present.
Once completed, Havant Thicket Reservoir is also expected to become a new leisure and wildlife destination.
Plans include a visitor centre and around five kilometres of paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
A new wetland will also be created along the reservoir’s northern shore, providing habitat for a range of bird species, including threatened species.
The reservoir is being developed by Portsmouth Water in partnership with Southern Water as part of longer-term plans to improve the resilience of water supplies across the region.
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