Costain, an infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a contract by Thames Water to support the design of a new reservoir in Oxfordshire.
The proposed 150Mm3 reservoir, known as SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option), aims to provide a resilient water supply for Thames Water customers in London and the Thames Valley, as well as those served by Affinity Water and Southern Water.
This new reservoir will also create new habitats, increase biodiversity, and offer new leisure and recreation facilities.
As part of the contract, Costain will conduct clay compaction trials to understand the ground conditions at the proposed site. Three test embankments, each approximately 50m long, 20m wide, and up to 3m high, will be built using the same plant and methodology as the proposed reservoir embankments.
Geologists will then determine the performance of the Kimmeridge clay under different compaction conditions, which will directly impact the reservoir embankment design and construction methodology.
Costain has also provided constructability advice to inform Thames Water’s design proposals for the new reservoir. Drawing on its experience and capabilities in the wider infrastructure ecosystem, Costain has provided design, construction, and sequencing recommendations for significant elements of the project, including the embankment, tunnelling, and the rail siding from the Great Western Mainline.
Additionally, Costain will provide safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) assurance, and act as a logistical hub for all ground and environmental investigations, including archaeological assessments on the site.
The clay compaction trials are expected to take between six and 12 months to complete, and upon completion, all land will be restored to its original state.
Graham Sugrue, framework director at Costain, commented: “The UK needs to upgrade its water infrastructure to meet increasing demand and remain resilient in the face of climate change. Working with Thames Water to help it develop a reservoir that will serve around 15 million people across the South East is a huge honour.
“This is a project that will see our customer benefit from the breadth and depth of Costain’s capabilities. Our construction and infrastructure experts in water, road and rail, in addition to our environmental, geological and archaeological experts, will work together to provide Thames Water with the information they need to secure government approval and a Development Consent Order.”
This project is a testament to Costain’s longstanding relationship with Thames Water and its growing presence in the water sector, having secured long-term framework agreements with both United Utilities and Northumbrian Water to deliver strategic infrastructure programmes for the AMP8 period.
Source :Costain
