Havant Thicket Reservoir

Environmental net gain

As part of the project, the team has also committed to delivering an environmental net gain locally.

Put simply, this means they’ll be striving to leave the environment in a better position than it was before the project started.

For example, they’re planting and improving more than 200 hectares of woodland and wood pasture locally. That’s the equivalent of more than 300 UK football pitches!

Construction

As an earthworks project, construction will primarily take place during warmer, drier months of each year.

The team anticipates this part of the scheme will take four years to complete, with three further years needed to fill the reservoir with water.

It will include building:

• the wetlands embankment (a smaller clay embankment to separate water in the wetlands on the reservoir’s northern shore, from the main body of water)
• inlet/outlet pipelines
• the main embankment
• the visitor centre
• a network of footpaths and cycle routes

Water recycling

Water recycling, here known as the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project, would enable Havant Thicket Reservoir to supply an additional 90 million litres per day.

This is on top of the 21 million litres of water that the approved plans would provide.

Water recycling uses tried and tested technology that has already been used in many other countries for decades.

The current approved plans are for the reservoir to be filled only with locally sourced spring water.

It’s proposed to add a second supply, of highly purified recycled water, which would significantly increase the environmental benefits of the reservoir.

Community engagement

Involving the local community to ensure the reservoir benefits them, during construction and when completed, is fundamental to the team’s plans.

In their 2020 public consultation, Havant Thicket Reservoir enjoyed widespread support, with 80% of respondents agreeingw ith the project.

The team has developed a well-established stakeholder group which now has over 70 members. These include local councillors, community representatives and environmental groups.

The forum meets formally every quarter, with members also meeting more regularly in smaller groups to discuss aspects of the project in more detail, including access, recreation and the environment.

Engineering skills used

• Project management
• Geotechnical engineering
• Reinforced concrete design
• Structural engineering
• Mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation
• Hydraulic engineering
• Quantity surveying and commercial management
• Programming