The project is designed to provide water security for future generations and will enable the company to abstract more water from the River Thames during periods of drought, supported by water recycling.
Thames Water is in the process of finalising several key changes, including:
• Changing the construction method for the recycled water pipeline from pipejacking to tunnel boring. Tunnel boring is a tried and tested method and has been used on lots of other major infrastructure projects, including the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
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• Changing the design of the recycled water pipeline that would transfer recycled water from Mogden sewage treatment works to the River Thames by increasing the internal diameter of the pipeline and constructing it as a tunnel.
The proposed changes to the pipeline's construction mean Thames Water can decrease the number of shafts and construction areas, reducing the surface level impact for local communities. Tunnel boring instead of pipejacking means the company can also take a more direct route to the River Thames, which would make the tunnel shorter.
As a result, the following four locations for a shaft and construction compound would be removed from the project:
• Shaft 1 at Ivybridge Retail Park Car Park
• Shaft 2 at Moormead & Bandy Recreation Ground
• Shaft 4 at land adjacent to the playground off Riverside Drive
• Shaft 6 at Ham Lands, to the west of Riverside Drive
A single intermediate shaft is still required – the preferred location is off Ham Street; and two options also remain under investigation for the Thames Lee Tunnel Connection.
Thames Water will publish and share detail of its proposed design changes later this summer, ahead of launching a series of community information events in autumn 2024.
