Survey of the proposed pipeline route
In July, August and September 2020, we carried out surveys along the proposed route of the pipeline to help confirm the location of existing underground pipes and cables, and enable us to refine our planning application.
Our specialist contractors used hand-held and van-mounted radar equipment and lifted manholes covers to look below the surface. To minimise the impact to traffic on busier roads, we carried out some surveys overnight, with temporary traffic lights in place to protect those working. We appreciate your support and understanding while these were carried out.
Update – 6 November
We’re sorry these investigations are taking longer than expected, we’re now hoping to be finished by mid-November. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we compete this work.
What’s happening now?
We need to return to some areas to carry out additional investigations to help us learn more about what materials are below the surface and underground water levels along the route.
Geology surveys – looking at what materials are below the surface
During October and November 2020, our contractor Structural Soils will be carrying out surveys at 16 sites along the proposed pipeline route to allow us to inspect the different layers of materials below the surface. Using a specialist machine, a long narrow tube is inserted into the ground to create a ‘core’ that allows us to look at and record the different layers. Each core sample takes up to one day to complete and is placed back into the ground once we’ve logged the information.
This work will be completed between 16 October and mid-November, and our working hours will be between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. We’ve already been in contact with landowners impacted, with the majority of sites located within grassed areas owned by the local authority.
The photo shows an example of the machine we’ll be using for this activity
Boreholes – learning more about underground water levels
Between 13 and 27 October, we’ll also be digging three boreholes along the proposed pipeline route to allow us to gather more information about water levels underground. Each one will take up to three days and will be filled in once the survey is complete. Our working hours will be between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Access and keeping you safe
Access to properties and driveways will be maintained at all times. Working areas will be fenced off and we ask that you take care around our sites and follow signage for any footpath diversions. We’re working hard to protect everyone at this time, and please help us follow current health advice by staying a safe distance from those working.
We don’t need to enter any properties to complete this work. All our staff and people working on our behalf carry an identity card with their photograph and name on it. If you’re not sure if a caller works for Portsmouth Water, please phone us to check.
We’re sorry about any inconvenience this may cause, and we’d like to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Commonly asked questions
We understand you may have some questions about the survey work being carried out along the route of the proposed pipeline, so we’ve put together some Question and Answers with more information.
If you still have unanswered questions, please get in touch so we can answer your queries and make the information available to others as well.
As you may be aware, Portsmouth Water is proposing to create a new reservoir at Havant Thicket. As part of this project, we’re also proposing a new pipeline that will pump water to and from the reservoir.
As part of our design process, we undertake a number of different types of activities and surveys to provide us with information. Along the pipeline route, the surveys focus on us learning more about what’s underground, including the location of the other services including gas and electricity, as well as finding out more about the ground conditions.
No final decisions have been made yet and if the project is approved the earliest that construction works would start is in a couple of years.
During October and November 2020, we’re looking to learn more about what materials are below the surface and underground water levels along the route of the proposed pipeline.
To do this, our specialist contractors Structural Soils, will be completing two main activities:
1. Taking ‘core’ samples from 16 sites along the pipeline route. Using a specialist machine, a long narrow tube is inserted into the ground to create a ‘core’ that allows us to look at and record the different layers. Each core sample takes up to one day to complete and is placed back into the ground once we’ve logged the information. We’ve already been in contact with landowners impacted, with the majority of sites located within grassed areas owned by the local authority.
2. Digging three boreholes to look at the underground water levels. Each borehole takes up to three days to complete and is dug using a special machine that is a couple of metres tall. Two of the boreholes are within Portsmouth Water’s land, and we’ve been in contact with owner of the land where the final one will be located.
You may see the team along the route of the pipeline using small machines to dig into the ground to allow us to look at ground conditions. The sites are mainly located within grassier areas owned by the local authority. For the boreholes, the machines will be slightly larger, up to a couple of metres tall.
All our working areas will be fenced off and we ask that you take care around our sites and follow signage for any footpath diversions. Anyone working on our sites will be wearing hi-visibility jackets along with other protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses and hard hats.
Once the work is complete, we’ll refill any holes and leave the site as we found it.
We’re working hard to protect our employees and the local community at this time, and our contractors will be adhering to government guidelines on social distancing.
We ask that you also help us by staying a safe distance from those working. If you have any questions or would like to know more about our work, please call us on 023 9249 9888 between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
We’ll be regularly posting updates on our website and dedicated Facebook page @HavantReservior.
However, if you’d like to ask any questions you can get in touch in a variety of ways – please click here to find out more.