We have now marked a significant achievement for the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project, with a total of one million cubic metres of clay successfully placed across the Main Embankment and the wetlands across the project so far.
The milestone represents a major step forward in the construction of Portsmouth Waters’ Havant Thicket Reservoir and reflects the dedication, expertise and collaboration of teams working across the site.
Clay placement is a critical part of the reservoir’s construction, providing the impermeable core that will help retain water safely and efficiently for generations to come. Reaching the one million cubic metre mark highlights the scale of the works being delivered and the progress made since construction began.
The achievement is the result of careful planning, engineering excellence and the efforts of operatives, supervisors, engineers and support teams who continue to deliver work safely and efficiently across the project.
In practical terms, one million cubic metres is enough clay to fill approximately 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools, demonstrating the vast scale of material that has been excavated, transported and compacted as part of the reservoir’s development.
As work continues, clay placement operations will remain a key focus across both the Main Embankment and wetlands areas, helping to shape the reservoir and prepare the site for future stages of construction.
At Future Water, we’re proud to support ‘Knives Down, Gloves Up’ in Leigh Park , a fantastic initiative led by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and local social prescribers that is helping young people channel their energy in a positive way.
The programme provides a safe, structured environment where young people can learn the discipline, respect, confidence, and resilience that boxing teaches, while giving them a healthy outlet to manage their frustrations. More than just a boxing club, it offers positive role models, guidance, and support at times when many young people need it most.
A special mention goes to Harry, the programme’s lead instructor. By day, Harry works in the construction industry, and in the evenings, he dedicates his time to coaching local young people. His passion and commitment to the project are clear to see, and the positive impact he has on the lives of those who attend is invaluable.
We’re pleased to have donated towards the programme and to be a strong advocate for such an important community initiative. Supporting projects like’ Knives Down, Gloves Up’ aligns with our commitment to investing in safer, stronger communities and creating positive opportunities for young people.
The programme has already made a measurable difference, with many participants showing improved engagement with education, regular attendance, and a move away from antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Its success has also been recognised nationally as part of the wider partnership work that contributed to Hampshire Police receiving the Tilley Award for innovative crime reduction.
A huge thank you to Harry and everyone involved in delivering this inspiring programme. Your dedication is changing lives and making a lasting difference within our community.
If you’re a local business looking to support a worthwhile cause, we’d encourage you to get behind initiatives like ‘Knives Down, Gloves Up’. Together, we can help create brighter futures for the next generation and our local community.
We were delighted to welcome Jack to Future Water, where he joined us for a week of work experience and gained valuable insight into the world of infrastructure delivery.
Jack connected with us through the Education Development Trust (EDT) mentoring scheme, an initiative we are proud to support. EDT plays a vital role in linking young people with industry, offering mentoring, work experience opportunities, and a range of programmes designed to build skills, confidence, and awareness of future career pathways.
During his time with us, Jack experienced a wide cross-section of the project, spending time with teams across Earthworks, Design, Health & Safety, Environmental, and Delivery. This hands-on exposure provided him with a deeper understanding of the collaboration, expertise, and coordination required to successfully deliver a major infrastructure scheme.
Reflecting on his experience, Jack said:
“It’s been great to see so many professionals and engineers at work. This placement has given me a lot to think about in terms of my career and the sort of work I want to do in the future.”
Throughout the week, Jack demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity, and a strong willingness to learn, qualities that will undoubtedly support him in his future career.
At Future Water, we are committed to supporting young people as they take their first steps into the construction and infrastructure industry. Providing opportunities like this is an important part of how we help develop the next generation of talent.
We would like to thank Jack for his time with us and wish him every success in the future.
We are proud to announce a significant milestone at Havant Thicket Reservoir, as works have now progressed above natural ground level for the first time.
This achievement marks the successful completion of the ground improvement phase, an essential stage in preparing the reservoir for long-term stability and performance. During this phase, the site was carefully lowered by approximately two metres before being rebuilt, layer by layer, back up to natural ground level.
While the transformation may appear modest from the surface, the scale and precision of work required to reach this point has been substantial. Key achievements during this phase include:
Over 1.5 million tonnes of clay placed in engineered layers, each typically 150–200mm thick
Every layer compacted through multiple roller passes to meet rigorous engineering standards
Approximately 75,000 truckloads of material transported, placed, and managed across the site
Installation of around 160,000 tonnes of sand to support the ground improvement process
With this phase now complete, construction continues above ground using the same meticulous methodology. Material will be placed and compacted in carefully controlled layers, gradually building the structure to form a safe, durable reservoir embankment designed to stand the test of time.
Reaching this milestone is a testament to the skill, dedication, and consistency of the teams working on site day in, day out. Their commitment ensures that every layer meets the high standards required for a project of this scale and importance.
As part of Portsmouth Water’s Havant Thicket Reservoir project, this progress represents an exciting step forward in delivering a vital piece of infrastructure that will support water resilience for the region for generations to come.
Future Water is pleased to be featured in the latest edition of GEM Magazine, published by the Dewatering Institute.
The article highlights the delivery of the cut-off wall at Havant Thicket Reservoir, a key milestone in the project and a significant element of the scheme’s engineering design. The feature provides insight into the approach taken on site and the scale of coordination required to successfully deliver this complex work.
As one of the defining components of the reservoir, the cut-off wall plays an important role in the overall performance and long-term resilience of the asset. Its delivery reflects the collaborative effort across the Future Water joint venture, bringing together technical expertise, careful planning, and consistent delivery on site.
Being featured in GEM Magazine provides an opportunity to share this work with a wider industry audience, contributing to ongoing dialogue around engineering, construction and water infrastructure in the UK.
The Dewatering Institute’s publication is widely recognised across the sector, and it is positive to see the progress at Havant Thicket Reservoir showcased within this forum.
Read the full article in GEM Magazine: https://dewateringinst.com/the-gem-magazine4/
We were proud to recently host The King’s Trust alongside representatives from Hampshire Constabulary at Havant Thicket Reservoir for a packed and practical insight into life on a live construction site.
The King’s Trust is a UK charity that supports young people aged 16–30 by helping them build confidence, develop practical skills, and access training and employment opportunities. This work is vital in giving young people the tools, direction, and support they need to build positive, independent futures.
The day began just like any real site day, with a morning briefing, toolbox talk, and a session on RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements), led by our Health & Safety team. It was a great opportunity to show how safety is embedded in everything we do and remains fundamental to every activity on site.
From there, the group took part in a full site tour, experiencing the scale and complexity of the reservoir project firsthand. We also showcased the wide range of plant equipment in use and explored potential career pathways in plant operations, including the importance of CSCS cards and specialist machine tickets.
One of the highlights was concrete cubing, where participants saw how we test material strength, followed by a session with our subcontractor SOCOTEC, who demonstrated testing processes for sand, concrete, and clay.
Throughout the visit, the group discovered the diverse range of careers within construction, from engineering and environmental management to commercial roles, quality assurance, health & safety, and skilled trades. We also highlighted how these roles contribute to the delivery of Portsmouth Water’s Havant Thicket Reservoir and the opportunities for progression within the industry.
Following the visit, Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “I am grateful to the Future Water team for giving these young people a genuine, hands-on look at what a future in construction can offer. For many, it opened their eyes to real careers they can aspire to, careers that build confidence, skills and stability. Opportunities like this are vital in helping young people choose a positive path, away from crime and towards a more secure future.”
A representative from Hampshire Constabulary also reflected on the day, adding: “We are very grateful to the site team at Future Water for offering hands-on insight into construction for a group of local young people. The experience of this visit helped our group to see new possibilities for the future in the construction industry and was an important step towards building skills, confidence and ultimately employment opportunities. We were very impressed with the project and the staff and thank them very much for this visit.”
We’re proud to support initiatives like this as part of our commitment to giving back to the communities we work in. Creating opportunities for young people in the local area is important to us, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and access positive pathways into employment.
Experiences like this show the value of collaboration between industry and community partners in shaping the future workforce.
This Easter, we’re incredibly proud to celebrate an egg-ceptional achievement at Future Water, one that reflects not just generosity, but a shared commitment to creating meaningful social value within our local communities.
Thanks to the enthusiasm and kindness of our team and partners, we’ve donated an outstanding 210 Easter eggs to the Munch Community Food Pantry. This remarkable effort highlights what can be achieved when people come together with a common purpose, to give back and truly make a difference.
At its heart, this initiative is about more than just giving. It’s about recognising the challenges faced by many local families during difficult times and taking action to ensure that no one feels left out during key moments of the year. For some, an Easter egg is a small chocolate treat, but for others, it represents inclusion and a true sense of belonging within the community.
By supporting organisations like the Munch Community Food Pantry, we’re helping to reach those who need it most when support is needed most.
We are deeply committed to delivering lasting social value, not only through the construction of the reservoir, but through meaningful community engagement at every stage, before, during, and long after its completion. Initiatives like our Easter donation drive show how even small actions can create a far-reaching impact.
Social value is about leaving a positive legacy. It’s about ensuring that our work today helps to build stronger, more resilient communities for tomorrow. By encouraging collaboration between colleagues, partners, and local organisations, we are fostering a culture of giving that extends far beyond a single project or moment in time.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone at Future Water, Portsmouth Water, and all those who contributed to this fantastic effort. Your generosity and community spirit will help make Easter truly special for so many people.
This is a wonderful example of what we can achieve together, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum, creating lasting social value and strengthening communities for the future.
Future Water were pleased to recently welcome representatives from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) to the Havant Thicket Reservoir site.
The visit provided an opportunity to share the latest progress on the project and to offer insight into how Portsmouth Water and Future Water are working together to deliver this important piece of regional water infrastructure.
During the tour, the NISTA team heard directly from those leading the project about the purpose of Havant Thicket Reservoir and the benefits it will bring once complete, including supporting the protection of local Chalk streams.
Colleagues from both Portsmouth Water and Future Water highlighted key milestones achieved to date, the scale of construction activity underway, and how teams across the project are collaborating to maintain momentum.
The visit concluded with a constructive and forward‑looking conversation about reservoir development in the UK. The discussion covered shared learning from major projects, opportunities to streamline processes, and ways the wider industry can continue to work together effectively to support the construction of future reservoirs.
The open exchange of views provided valuable insight and reinforced the importance of partnership working in delivering nationally significant infrastructure.
Future Water would like to thank NISTA for visiting the Havant Thicket Reservoir site and for engaging so positively in the discussions. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with partners across the sector as the project progresses.
The Future Water team were proud to take part in the ‘Strong Women, Bright Future Conference’ at Park Community. It was a truly special and inspiring event.
Nearly 300 Year 6 and Year 7 girls attended the conference, learning about the wide range of STEM careers and opportunities available in industries that have traditionally been male-dominated. It was fascinating to hear about the variety of careers and the incredible work being done across the sector.
It was also incredibly encouraging to see how engaged the girls were listening, asking thoughtful questions, and beginning to realise that these careers are not only achievable but realistic, especially when they could speak directly with strong women already working in these roles.
At Future Water, we are passionate about highlighting the many roles within the construction industry and ensuring young people hear directly from those working in it today. We were delighted to bring along representatives from the younger generation, including our Civil Engineer Apprentice, Esther, and Lucy Verrinder, Site Engineer for CECA Next Generation. The girls were able to hear first-hand what it’s like to be a young woman working in construction.
We were also joined by Cristina, a Senior Geotechnical Engineer from Coffey, who sparked lots of interest from the students with the different rocks she brought along to demonstrate the fascinating world of geotechnical engineering.
One question that really stood out from the students was: “Do you feel that because you are a woman, you get listened to when working in construction?”
Our answer was simple. At Future Water, we are listened to because our voices matter just as much as anyone else’s, and we feel valued and invested in. We can see that the construction industry is changing, but there is still more that can be done. That is why conferences like this are so important for both the construction industry and the wider STEM world.
A highlight of the day was listening to the inspiring keynote speaker, Prof Dr Anusha Shah, who shared her career journey and the experiences that have shaped her path in engineering.
It was an honour to be part of this event, which would not have been possible without Ella Capaldi for coordinating and hosting the conference at Park Community. Many amazing women and organisations also gave up their time to support the day, including Portsmouth Water, Ward and Burke, CETC, and many other incredible women and companies helping to inspire the next generation.
Events like this help show young people what’s possible and inspire the next generation of women in STEM. We look forward to taking part in many more events like this to continue encouraging the next generation into both STEM and the construction industry.
Future Water Celebrates Major Milestone at Havant Thicket Reservoir
Future Water MJJV is proud to announce the successful completion of a major piece of work at Portsmouth Water’s Havant Thicket Reservoir, an operation that marks a UK first and demonstrates the incredible teamwork between Future Water and Portsmouth Water.
On 14 January 2026, the project team finished the first stage of the Culvert Cut‑Off Wall, a vital part of making sure the future reservoir holds water safely and securely.
What Is the Culvert Cut‑Off Wall?
To help explain this engineering challenge, imagine the reservoir embankment as a giant bathtub, and the large concrete culvert underneath it as the plug hole that will be used to empty the reservoir when water is needed. For everything to work properly, the join between these two structures must be perfectly sealed, just like the silicone seal you’d use around a bathtub at home.
Creating this seal deep underground, beneath a future reservoir, required an innovative and highly precise solution. Coffey Geotechnics Ltd led the design for a special “Cut‑Off Wall”, which acts as an underground barrier to contain the water.
A UK First Engineering Achievement
To build this barrier, Future Water constructed a 20‑tonne steel sheet pile wall on site. Standing at 9 metres high and 13 metres wide, the wall was lifted into place in one piece using a powerful 100‑tonne crane.
Before the lift, a trench was dug 8 metres deep and filled with a bentonite slurry mix. The steel wall then had to be lowered into this mixture within a tolerance of just 25 millimetres. Achieving this level of accuracy with a structure of that size is a major achievement in itself.
This solution is the first of its kind ever used in the UK, designed to meet the unique ground conditions found at Havant Thicket.
72 Hours of Non Stop Teamwork
Because the slurry starts to harden as soon as it is mixed, the team had to work continuously for over 72 hours. Teams from Future Water rotated through day and night shifts to keep the work moving safely and smoothly.
Their commitment ensured the steel wall could be installed before the slurry cured, a race against time that required planning, teamwork, and exceptional focus.
The slurry will now be left to cure for 28 days. Later this year, the steel wall will be connected to the concrete culvert, and the embankment will be built over the top. This will complete the Culvert Cut‑Off ahead of the main embankment construction in 2026 and 2028.
An environmentally-led project
The completion of the Culvert Cut‑Off Wall is a major step forward for Portsmouth Water’s Havant Thicket Reservoir, an environmentally-led project that will play a key role in protecting two internationally renowned chalk streams in Hampshire, the River Test and River Itchen.
This achievement reflects innovation, collaboration, and the shared commitment of everyone involved. Future Water and Portsmouth Water are proud to celebrate this moment as work continues toward delivering the first new reservoir in the region in decades.
“The successful completion of the Culvert Cut-Off marks a critical technical milestone for the Reservoir project. Delivery of this element relied on close collaboration with Keller and Coffey Geotechnical, whose expertise were instrumental in achieving seamless execution. This UK-first solution was specifically developed to suit the site’s ground conditions and provides a robust hydraulic barrier between the culvert and underlain strata, and long-term reservoir performance and enabling the next phase of construction. While the works themselves were completed on site within a matter of days and without hindrance, this efficiency was the direct result of many more hours invested in design development, planning, and preparation, it was a true team effort.” – Ryan George, Project Manager, Future Water
