Grafham Water (Original Construction & Treatment Works Resilience Project)
Cambridgeshire, England, UK · 1965 (Reservoir created); Ongoing (Grafham Water Treatment Works resilience project, Grafham to Cambridge pipeline) · £30 million saved (Grafham Water Treatment Works resilience project through reuse and adaptation) [NEC Contract]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe Grafham Water Treatment Works resilience project involved significant reuse and adaptation of existing assets, saving £30 million and reducing embodied carbon dioxide content by 50% [NEC Contract] - The Grafham to Cambridge pipeline is the first stage of a larger Strategic Pipeline Alliance to secure water supplies for future generations [Anglian Water] - The reservoir is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, highlighting the balance between infrastructure and environmental protection [Wildlife BCN]
Key engineering challenges
Construction of a large earth and concrete dam to create the reservoir [Wikipedia] - Providing drinking water for a significant population in the East of England [Facebook (Anglian Water)] - Ensuring resilience of water treatment works and network to secure future supplies [NEC Contract, Anglian Water] - Laying a 70-kilometre pipeline to transfer water to new areas [Anglian Water]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Anglian Water
- Lead contractor
- —
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build | upgrade | infrastructure
- Scale
- Eighth largest reservoir in England by volume; Holds 59 billion litres; Supplies 1.3 million people in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes; 70-kilometre pipeline (Grafham to Cambridge) [Facebook (Anglian Water), Wikipedia]
- Disciplines
- Civil; environmental; mechanical; electrical; process; hydraulic
- Standards & frameworks
- Water quality standards; Environmental regulations
Sources: NEC Contract (Grafham Water Treatment Works resilience project): https://www.neccontract.com/projects/grafham-water-treatment-works-resilience-project-uk (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Anglian Water (Grafham to Cambridge pipeline): https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/investing-in-the-future-of-water/strategic-pipeline-alliance/keeping-taps-flowing-for-future-generations/grafham-to-cambridge/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Wikipedia (Grafham Water): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafham_Water (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Facebook (Anglian Water - How do you fill up a reservoir?): https://www.facebook.com/AnglianWater/videos/how-do-you-fill-up-a-reservoir-here-is-one-of-the-inlets-at-grafham-water-in-cam/1418563754839739/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Wildlife BCN (Grafham Water): https://www.wildlifebcn.org/grafham-water (Accessed: 2026-06-10)