Portsmouth Water has appointed engineering consultancy Clancy to deliver the next stage of the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project, with a pumping station and 8.5km pipeline to be built.

The pumping station is set to be constructed at Portsmouth Water’s Farlington Water Treatment Works. Clancy will also install a new pipeline connecting the treatment works with a storage reservoir for treated drinking water, located just north of Portchester.

The contract is valued at £26.84 million, with work to begin in December.

According to Portsmouth Water, the new pipeline will span 8.5km and will be able to move up to 32.4 million litres of water a day – enough to fill around 400,000 bathtubs.

Portsmouth Water has appointed engineering consultancy Clancy to deliver the next stage of the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project, with a pumping station and 8.5km pipeline to be built. Photo: Google Earth.

placeholder image — Portsmouth Water has appointed engineering consultancy Clancy to deliver the next stage of the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project, with a pumping station and 8.5km pipeline to be built. Photo: Google Earth.

The aim behind the pipeline is to help Southern Water reduce the amount it takes from two of Hampshire’s vital chalk streams, the River Itchen and the River Test.

Both Portsmouth Water and Clancy say the route is designed to minimise disruption. Most of the pipeline will run through farmland, with ‘trenchless construction methods’ to be used when road access is needed.

Plans for Havant Thicket Reservoir were approved in 2021, with work having started in 2025.

Water from the reservoir will be sent to Farlington Water Treatments works, where Portsmouth Water says it will be treated to strict drinking water standards.

Bob Taylor, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Water, said: “This is another important milestone for the Havant Thicket Reservoir project and we’re delighted to welcome Clancy on board. They have more than 60 years of experience and bring considerable expertise in delivering major civil engineering projects.”

The CEO acknowledged that there will be some disruption as a result of the works, adding that Portsmouth Water intends to keep local people informed through drop-in sessions and meetings.

Matt Cannon, chief executive officer at Clancy, said: “Havant Thicket Reservoir is one of the UK’s most important new water resource projects, and we are proud to be helping Portsmouth Water to construct the critical infrastructure its network needs to support this development.”