Southern Water, a water and wastewater company in the UK, announced that construction has commenced on a 17km drinking water pipeline project in Hampshire, aimed at bolstering the resilience of water supplies for the Southampton area.
The initiative, known as the Southampton Link Main (SLM), represents an investment of over £100m ($135.8m) and is expected to span three years, connecting the Otterbourne Water Supply Works with the city of Southampton.
The new drinking water pipeline is designed to provide enhanced resilience against disruptions such as burst pipes, mechanical failures, or sudden spikes in demand.
By facilitating easier redistribution of water across the network, the SLM project will ensure a more reliable supply where it is most needed.
The pipeline, to be situated underground, will also integrate with two subterranean reservoirs - one at Yew Hill, where a new storage tank is currently under construction, and another on the outskirts of Southampton.
This integration will enable the building of water reserves, thereby reducing reliance on the region's chalk streams such as the Test and Itchen, stated Southern Water.
The SLM project is a collaborative effort between Southern Water and MGjv, a joint venture comprising infrastructure service provider M Group Water and Galliford Try, a construction company.
The majority of the pipeline will be laid using traditional trenching methods, with subsequent backfilling. However, to minimise disruption to critical infrastructure and protect ecological sites, certain sections will be tunnelled beneath the surface.
The pipeline's route was chosen after consultations with local stakeholders, including landowners and residents, and was informed by detailed environmental and ecological studies.
Southern Water programme manager Simon Cook said: “It’s great to get this project underway. We’ve worked closely with landowners and local authorities to find the most viable and least disruptive route for the pipeline.
“We are doing this to improve the resilience of our water network for our customers in Hampshire. The project will also provide future resilience for the Test and Itchen rivers and their wildlife.”
Last year in October, AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting company, was appointed to deliver design engineering services for Southern Water's £3.7bn capital delivery programme in the UK.
