Crane erected as latest phase of £13m work to improve water quality in Southampton Water continues

The latest phase of works to improve water quality and protect shellfish in Southampton Water is now underway.

As part this, a 50-tonne, 100ft tall crawler crane will be installed as work continues to improve Woolston Wastewater Treatment works.

This is part of works to build an underground shaft which will be used to store storm water, before it is pumped back to Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works.

The crane and 100-tonne piling rig will be used throughout July to install Secant piles. These piles will hold back groundwater while the storm shaft is dug. Once completed, the new shaft will hold around five million litres of storm water, which is the equivalent to two Olympic-size swimming pools.

Through this and additional membrane filters we will be able to treat more water before it goes back into Southampton Water.

It comes after we continue to invest in the Southampton area following a £100m transformation of the Woolston works in 2020 as well as investing £5.5m upgrading Portswood Wastewater Treatment Works.

Work on this project is being carried out by GTb, which is a joint venture between Galliford Try Environment and Binnies UK Ltd

Project Manager for Southern Water, Jorge Rodriguez, said: “We are serious about improving water quality in the Hampshire area, and protecting the precious environment across the areas we serve.”

Dominic Edwards, Site Agent at GTb, said: “This is the largest piling rig and crawler crane we have used since forming the joint venture between Galliford Try and Binnies. Over the coming weeks and months there will be some significant changes to the site as we start to construct the storm shaft.”

This work is an example of how Southern Water is spending £2bn between 2020 and 2025 to improve its performance and assets.