£2 million "water cathedral" takes shape

Jul 28, 2011

A new underground cathedral is taking shape among the valleys of a picturesque part of Surrey.

South East Water is making good progress on building a new service reservoir at Hindhead to help improve water supplies in the area. The new treated water storage tank, which is partially buried, has its roof supported by a series of concrete columns. With the columns in place and the roof now in situ, the tank is eerily quiet and cool but with fantastic acoustics – almost like a modern day cathedral.
 
Once finished, it will be surrounded by grassed embankments to minimise its visual impact, while it will also increase the amount of water that can be stored at the site – up to five million litres in total.
 
The Company’s £2 million scheme, which started in November 2010, is taking place on its existing site next to the famous Devil’s Punchbowl, off the A3. The project will help secure drinking water supplies and ensure excellent water quality is maintained to 12,500 customers in the Hindhead, Grayshott and Bramshott area that are supplied from the works.
 
Joe Yip, Delivery Manager at South East Water, said: “We have made excellent progress on our scheme to secure future water supplies in this area. The next stage is for us to fit all the necessary underground pipework on site, then fill the reservoir with treated drinking water before bringing it into full operation. The final phase of work will be to surround the structure with grassed embankments so it blends in with its natural setting.”
 
Extensive ecological surveys and mitigation work were carried out on the site to ensure native species were protected before construction started. That included South East Water’s team of ecologists helping a family of reptiles pack up and move to a new reptile home - called hibernaculum - on adjacent land at The Devil’s Punchbowl beauty spot.
 
The scheme is part of the company’s £390 million investment programme between 2010 – 2015, which will improve its network of water mains, refurbish existing or develop new water sources, and ensure customers continue to receive high quality drinking water.
 
Work on the £2 million water supply scheme is due to finish this Summer.
 

Contact

South East Water

Rocfort Road

ME6 5AH Snodland - Kent

E-Mail:

contactcentre@southeastwater.co.uk

Internet:

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