Changes to the UK climate and fears about bigger and longer water shortages in the future have raised the profile and importance of both reservoirs and water management.
We’ve all seen news reports during droughts showing reservoir water levels at record lows, with people expressing the need for more water storage facilities to be built to ensure we can meet increasing demand.
But needing new reservoirs is one thing, delivering them is another.
As proud leaders in UK reservoir planning and construction, here at SRC Group, we’ve been helping meet demand for water storage for over 30 years. Our experience extends to agricultural and civilian projects, with our team of expert consultants ensuring landowners and local authorities get the best quality service.
Here we take a look at what’s involved in getting new reservoirs built in the UK, and how our consultants can help clients overcome the significant hurdles that are part and parcel of the process.
A reservoir is a natural or man-made lake where water is stored until it’s needed. Reservoirs either collect water from rainfall or use water that has been diverted from another natural water source.
The Reservoirs Act of 1975 states that a reservoir is any facility that’s capable of storing at least 25,000m3 of water above the lowest adjacent ground levels.
There are 2 basic types of reservoirs:
Direct Supply: These reservoirs store water and supply it direct to a water treatment plant.
River Regulating: This type of reservoir stores rainwater and releases it into rivers when required, so it can be taken downstream to be treated.
Usage: Reservoirs can be used for agricultural purposes, storing water to be used on farms for drinking and irrigation. They can also be used to store water to be supplied to civilian populations living in towns and cities. Some reservoirs are built and used for recreation such as water sports, while bigger reservoirs are used to generate hydroelectric power.
Reservoirs can take years, sometimes even decades to build. Given their size and impact on the environment, significant planning and public consultations are required. It’s a daunting process with numerous obstacles to overcome.
This complexity helps explain why landowners and local authorities often choose to employ the services of Reservoir Planning Consultants – such as we have here at SRC Group – to manage the process from start to finish. Below is an overview of the services these consultants will typically deliver:
Site Assessment: When the need for a new reservoir is confirmed, a consultant will get the project underway by carrying out assessments and feasibility studies of potential sites for the reservoir, with the goal of pinpointing the best location for the project.
Planning: The reservoir construction process can be long and demanding. Large areas of land are needed, some of which may require a compulsory purchase.
Several licence applications will be made during this phase, and planning permissions must be obtained before the project can proceed. Compliance with the terms of the Reservoirs Act is also an essential part of the process.
Reservoirs often call for natural water courses to be diverted, which can adversely impact wildlife and the local environment. This often gives rise to opposition to reservoir projects from local individuals and communities as well as larger conservation and nature-focused organisations.
A Reservoir Planning Consultant has an important role to play in managing any opposition to a project and will take the regulatory hassles associated with the development off the hands of clients.
Reservoir Design: A key service provided by a reservoir development project team will be the design of the water storage facility, which will consider the dynamics of the local landscape and the specifics of the client’s requirements. Other important factors that will need to be closely considered include the water storage capacity required and how the water will be distributed to customers.
Reservoir Construction: A Reservoir Planning Consultant can also oversee the construction stage of a reservoir project. Building a reservoir is a huge undertaking requiring the excavation of land and the installation of an infrastructure system that will likely include aquifers (material that can hold water), tunnels and pumps to get the water from the storage site to where it’s needed. Bigger projects may even require the construction of a dam. Other vital aspects of a reservoir that will need to be considered during both the design and construction phases include the floor, tank, lining and waterproofing of the reservoir.
Reservoir Testing: Once completed, a reservoir will need to be tested to ensure it’s fit for purpose. Again, this is a process that a Reservoir Planning Consultant can oversee, with the reservoir’s valves and floodgates likely to be the focus of any tests.
Stakeholder Management: With reservoir construction being such a major undertaking, there will be multiple stakeholders involved in a project who will all need to be kept up to speed with progress. It’s the job of a Reservoir Planning Consultant to liaise with and manage these stakeholders, ensuring they have the information they need, when they need it.
SRC Group has a robust track record of delivering successful reservoir planning and construction projects that extends back over 30 years. Our family-run business is dedicated to giving clients the best quality services across the full reservoir project lifecycle. We are ready to bring our skills and experience to bear on your project, whether you need us during the planning, design, construction or testing phases, or all of the above.
To begin the process, please contact one of our friendly and professional team to arrange an initial consultation.
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