As the 2025 earthworks season draws to a close, we want to reflect on how specialist machinery has played a key role in works progressing at Havant Thicket Reservoir over recent months.
At the heart of this development is an 86-tonne long-reach excavator, a specialist machine supplied by WM Plant Hire. Carefully selected for its precision and extended reach, the excavator boasts a 25.5-metre boom and a digging depth of over 20 metres, making it ideally suited to shaping the reservoir basin, especially in confined or technically challenging areas.
With main works starting earlier this year, the excavator has played a crucial role in enabling the safe and efficient construction of the Harwich cut-off wall, a critical underground barrier that will span approximately 2.5 kilometres. This structure is designed to retain water within the reservoir and protect the underlying groundwater.
The cut-off wall is being delivered through a highly coordinated effort involving several specialist contractors. With Keller leading the installation, Coffey providing the design and site supervision to confirm 1m embedment into the Reading beds which vary in depth, while WJ Dewatering is also playing a key role in the delivery. Future Water is proud to be enabling and partnering with these experts to bring this vital infrastructure to life. It’s a true example of our ethos: Future Focused Construction, Powered by Partnership.
Ryan George, Project Manager, commented: “This is one of the many important steps in building the reservoir, making sure the basin stays watertight. We’re excited to have Keller, WJ Dewatering, and Coffey on board for this phase of progress. The job is highly technical and challenging, so it calls for the expert skills of the entire team and wider supply chain, strict quality control, and careful oversight every step of the way.”
This marks another step forward in delivering Portsmouth Water’s flagship Havant Thicket Reservoir project, the first major new UK reservoir to be built in over 30 years. As work continues to progress, we’ll keep sharing updates that highlight the innovation, collaboration, and care driving this landmark project.