Reservoir pipeline
From 6 November to 18 December 2023 we ran a consultation on our updated proposals for new pipelines that need to be built as part of the Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme - to transport water from Bedhampton Springs to the reservoir, as well as take water out for supply to customers, when required.
Many thanks to everyone who gave us their comments, ideas and questions. All the feedback we received will help shape the planning application we will submit to Havant Borough Council in 2024.
Why we consulted further
Earlier this year, we showed you our innovative, new plan to tunnel most of the reservoir pipeline route underground, instead of digging up public roads and pavements. By using micro-tunnelling technology, rather than an “open-cut” technique, this new proposal would reduce disruption for you and minimise the impact on your local environment.
Since then, we’ve identified further opportunities to improve the pipeline design. We’re now proposing to install two separate pipelines to pump spring water to the reservoir and draw it out. This would give us another option, in case we need to do maintenance, or want to take water to and from the reservoir at the same time.
What’s more, if Southern Water's Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project was to happen in the future, the second pipeline tunnel could be used. This doesn’t mean the water recycling proposals, which would involve supplementing the reservoir with recycled water, are going ahead.
It’s important to note that the pipelines planning application we're set to submit in 2024 will only seek permission for us to transport spring water from Bedhampton to Havant Thicket Reservoir, and back again.
A completely separate planning application (for a Development Consent Order) needs to be submitted by Southern Water for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project. Only if Southern Water received planning consent for the water recycling scheme, would this additional source of water be added to the reservoir. Southern Water will be consulting you on the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project in 2024.
Consultation information
To find out more about our updated Havant Thicket Reservoir pipelines proposals, you can download a copy of our consultation leaflet.
We also provided a Google Earth-style interactive digital map of the proposed pipelines route, so you can view the route in detail.
Pipeline route map (for Nov / Dec 2023 consultation)
Using this tool, you can zoom in and view the UPDATED proposed pipeline route in detail and give us your feedback on it - just click on the + symbol to add a virtual pin to the map, where you can then type in your comments.
It's important to note the following:
- The blue lines show the route the new pipes would take - the darker blue line represents the pipe to take water to the reservoir. The lighter blue line is for the pipe that would be used to take water out of the reservoir.
- Along much of the proposed route, the two pipes would be installed inside separate concrete tunnels running next to each other underground.
- The areas marked by a bright green outline are the sections of the pipeline route that would tunnelled.
- The bright pink circles are where the access shafts for tunnelling would be during construction.
- Also marked in bright pink, just south of Corhampton Crescent, is the location for the emergency discharge point, where water from the reservoir could be released to the Hermitage Stream.
- The areas with a red outline are locations where pipeline construction work would take place on the surface - such as temporary storage compounds, where access shafts for micro-tunnelling would be, or where the pipe would be installed by digging down from the surface to create a trench that the pipe would be put in and then covered up.
Of course, you can also give us your feedback by completing the online survey we've set up. Plus, you can ask us a question using the Questions tool on this page.
