Real projects — the case bank.
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works AMP7 Upgrade
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity expansion · 2020-2024 (Construction started 2021, completion and handover in phases throughout 2024, treatment capacity upgrade completed early 2023) · Beckton, East London
Blackburn Meadows Wastewater Treatment Works (Phosphorus Removal)
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, phosphorus removal · 2022-2024 (Construction completed by December 2024) · Blackburn Meadows, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Carsington Water Dam Construction and Reconstruction
Reservoir Construction / Dam Reconstruction · 1979-1992 (Construction started 1979, failure 1984, reconstruction and opening 1992) · Derbyshire, UK
Catcleugh Reservoir Upgrades
Reservoir Refurbishment / Dam Upgrade · Ongoing (Three-month road closure for upgrades, mentioned in 2025 news article) · Northumberland, UK
Chesil Beach Flood Defences (Chiswell)
Coastal Defence / Beach Management · Ongoing management; significant repair works in 2014 following winter storms (original defences from 1958 onwards). · Chiswell, Portland, Dorset, UK
Chesil Cove Curved Seawall
Coastal Defence · Original construction 1962-1967; Repairs 2011; Proposed repair/update 2026 · Chesil Cove, Dorset, UK
Countess Wear Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade (Flood Protection & System Upgrade)
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, flood protection, sewage system upgrade · 2016 (Flood protection project completed); Ongoing investment in Exeter's sewage system over 4 years [Water Projects Online, Instagram] · Countess Wear, Exeter, Devon
Cow Green Reservoir
Reservoir Construction / Dam Construction · 1967-1971 · Upper Teesdale, County Durham, UK
Crossness Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity expansion · Ongoing into 2014 (Project duration not fully specified, but significant upgrade works were active around 2013-2014) [Evolution5] · Crossness, East London
Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works Modernisation Project
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity expansion, environmental compliance · 2015-2020 (AMP6 modernisation project); new 10-year plan with initial investment from 2025 [WaterProjectsOnline, United Utilities] · Davyhulme, Greater Manchester
Dawlish Warren Beach Management Scheme
Coastal Defence / Beach Management · Completed October 2017 (Construction started January 2017) · Dawlish Warren, Devon, UK
Deephams Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade (A630 Major Upgrade)
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity expansion, environmental compliance · 2013-2019 (Upgrade between 2013 and 2019) [Ayesa Engineering]; Delivery date 2018 [EIC-UK] · Enfield, London
Derwent Valley Reservoirs (Howden, Derwent, Ladybower)
Reservoir Construction · 1901-1943 (Howden and Derwent: 1901-1916; Ladybower: 1935-1943) · Derbyshire, UK (Upper Derwent Valley)
Elan Valley Aqueduct – Birmingham Resilience Project (BRP)
Aqueduct Refurbishment / Tunneling · 2017-2020 (Bleddfa bypass 2017, Nantmel 2018, Frydd Wood 2020) · Elan Valley, Wales to Birmingham, UK
Ernesettle Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade (Phosphorus Removal & Capacity Planning)
Wastewater treatment, phosphorus removal, capacity planning · Ongoing (Phosphorus removal as part of SWW's long-term programme); Capacity planning for future growth up to 2035 [Plymouth City Council, South West Water] · Ernesettle, Plymouth, Devon
Exeter Flood Defence Scheme
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Upgrades between 2014 and 2023 (Phase 1: 2014-2016; Phase 2: 2016-2021; minor upgrades 2021-2023) · Exeter, Devon, UK (along the River Exe, from Cowley Bridge to Bridge Road, Countess Wear)
Falmouth Sewer Improvement Scheme (Stormwater Overflow Improvements)
Wastewater network upgrade, stormwater management, water quality improvement · Phase 1 completed May 2026; Phase 2 design work starting June 2026 [South West Water] · Falmouth, Cornwall
Frankwell Flood Alleviation Scheme (Shrewsbury)
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Ongoing maintenance (original construction not explicitly dated in current sources, but maintenance work started April 2018) · Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Grafham Water (Original Construction & Treatment Works Resilience Project)
Reservoir construction, water supply, water treatment, pipeline infrastructure · 1965 (Reservoir created); Ongoing (Grafham Water Treatment Works resilience project, Grafham to Cambridge pipeline) · Cambridgeshire, England, UK
Happisburgh Coastal Erosion (Managed Realignment)
Coastal Management / Managed Realignment · Ongoing (policy of managed realignment applied; emergency works in 2002 and 2007; rock armour re-aligned in 2015) · Happisburgh, Norfolk, UK
Hayle STW – Inlet Refurbishment Works
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, inlet works refurbishment, H2S corrosion remediation, screening and grit removal · 2018 (Case study published, implying completion around this time) [Water Projects Online] · Hayle, Cornwall
Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Five-year programme of works, currently due to begin in early 2027 (approved February 2026) · Hebden Bridge, Calderdale, UK
Ipswich Tidal Barrier
Tidal Flood Defence / Surge Barrier · 2015-2019 (commissioned 2018, officially opened February 2019) · River Orwell, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
Ironbridge Flood Alleviation Scheme
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Ongoing (Improvements made following February 2020 floods, road surface work started January 2021) · Ironbridge, Shropshire, UK
Katrine Water Project
Water Treatment Works Upgrade / Pipeline Construction · 2000-2005 (Construction start July 2002, completion April 2005) · Loch Katrine to Milngavie and Balmore Water Treatment Works, Greater Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Kielder Water Scheme
Reservoir construction, water supply, water resource transfer · 1975–1981 (Built); 1982 (First flooded) · Northumberland, England, UK
Knostrop Sewage Treatment Works Upgrade (Phosphorus Reduction)
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, phosphorus removal, capacity expansion · 2022-2025 (Construction started April 2022, completion October 2024, regulatory date December 2024, EBPR completion April 2025) · Knostrop, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Ladybower Reservoir
Reservoir Construction · 1935-1943 (construction), opened 1945 · Derbyshire, UK (Upper Derwent Valley)
Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1 (FAS 1)
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Completed in 2017 (started after December 2015 floods) · Leeds City Centre, from Leeds Station to Woodlesford, UK
Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 (FAS 2)
Flood Management / Flood Defence / Natural Flood Management · Completed in 2024 · Leeds, from Leeds Station to Apperley Bridge in Bradford, UK
Llyn Brianne Dam
Dam Construction / Reservoir Construction · 1968-1972 (construction completed 1972) · River Towy, Ceredigion, Wales, UK
Llyn Celyn (Tryweryn Reservoir)
Reservoir Construction / Dam Construction · 1960-1965 (construction began 1960, completed 1965) · Tryweryn Valley, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
Loch Katrine Aqueducts Refurbishment
Aqueduct Refurbishment · Recent investment (event date 2022, implying work around this time) · Loch Katrine to Milngavie and Balmore Water Treatment Works, Scotland, UK
Loch Lomond Water Supply Scheme
Water Supply · 1966-1971 · Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK
Loch Turret Water Treatment Works Energy Upgrades
Water Treatment Works Upgrade / Energy Infrastructure · Ongoing (Expected duration 18 months, event date 2024-2026) · Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, UK
Lower Don Valley Flood Alleviation Scheme (Sheffield)
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Completed in 2017 (in response to floods in 2000 and 2007) · Lower Don Valley, Sheffield, UK (8km along the River Don from Nursery Street to Blackburn Brook near Meadowhall)
Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme (Coastal Defence)
Coastal Defence / Landslide Stabilisation · Began in the 1990s, completed in 2015 (Phases 1, 2, 4 completed; Phase 3 cancelled) · Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK
Medmerry Managed Realignment Scheme
Coastal Management / Managed Realignment · 2011-2013 (Work started September 2011, completed 2013) · Medmerry, West Sussex, UK
Millbrook Wastewater Treatment Works Upgrade
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, storm water storage, water quality improvement · Ongoing (Final stage reached November 2023, completion expected soon after) [Water Magazine, Daily Echo] · Southampton
Minworth Thermal Hydrolysis Plant (THP) Upgrade
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, sludge treatment, renewable energy generation · 2015-2018 (AMP6 project, completed 2018) [MWH Treatment, WaterProjectsOnline] · Minworth, Birmingham
Newquay Sewage Treatment Works HYBACS Upgrade
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity increase, biological treatment · Newquay, Cornwall
Penzance and St Erth Sewage Treatment Works Upgrades
Wastewater treatment, phosphorus removal, network resilience · Ongoing (Part of South West Water's long-term investment in environmental improvements and phosphorus removal); 2018 (equipment failure at St Erth STW) [St Erth Parish Council] · Penzance and St Erth, Cornwall
Perth Flood Protection Scheme (River Tay)
Flood Management / Flood Defence · 1997-2001 (4 years in making, opened 2001) · Perth, Scotland, UK
Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme
Coastal Management / Flood Defence · Short-term (2025-2027); Medium-term (2027–2037); Long-term Strategy (2037 onwards) · Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK
Pitlochry Fish Ladder (Loch Faskally)
Fish Pass / Hydropower Infrastructure · Construction began 1947 (as part of Pitlochry Dam and Power Station) · Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK
River Hull Tidal Surge Barrier
Tidal Flood Defence / Surge Barrier · 1977-1980 (Construction began January 1977, opened 15 April 1980) · River Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
Roadford Reservoir (Original Construction & Future Capacity Enhancement)
Reservoir construction, water supply, water resource management · 1980s (Work began); 1989 (Completed); 1990 (Dam completed); Future (Permanent works planning application for new capacity submitted December 2023) [SW Lakes Trust, The Oldie, South West Water] · West Devon, England, UK
Rutland Water (Empingham Pumped Storage Project)
Reservoir construction, water supply, pumped storage · 1970s (Construction); 1976 (Completed); 1977 (Fully operational) [LRWT, RWFF, BBC News] · Rutland, England, UK
Steart Coastal Management Project
Coastal Management / Managed Realignment / Habitat Creation · 2012-2014 (Completed September 2014) · Steart Peninsula, Somerset, UK
Stithians Reservoir (Original Construction & Flood Reduction Project)
Reservoir construction, water supply, flood management · 1965 (Original construction); 2026 (Flood reduction project completion) · Stithians, Cornwall, England, UK
Thames Tideway Tunnel - Central Section
Wastewater infrastructure, storm sewage tunnel · 2016-2025 (Overall project construction 2016, Tunnelling up to 2022, Completion 2025) · Central London (Fulham to Bermondsey)
Thames Tideway Tunnel - East Section
Wastewater infrastructure, storm sewage tunnel · 2016-2025 (Overall project construction 2016, Completion 2025) · East London (Chambers Wharf to Abbey Mills Pumping Station)
Thames Tideway Tunnel - West Section
Wastewater infrastructure, storm sewage tunnel · 2016-2025 (Construction 2016, Tunnelling 2018-2022, Completion 2025) · West London (Acton to Wandsworth)
Thirlmere Aqueduct Refurbishment
Aqueduct Refurbishment · 2005-2010 (ongoing program, with significant work in 2007) · Lake District to Manchester (134km length), UK
Toddbrook Reservoir emergency spillway repair
Reservoir Safety / Dam Repair · 2019-2026 · Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, UK
Ulley Reservoir Rehabilitation Scheme
Reservoir Safety / Dam Rehabilitation / Spillway Reconstruction · 2007-2010 · Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK
Vyrnwy Aqueduct Modernisation Programme
Aqueduct Refurbishment / Pipeline Relining · Ongoing (First constructed 1890, refurbishment program includes AMP5 element with 52km lining programmed to be complete by March 2015, and overall completion by 2028) · Lake Vyrnwy to Merseyside (via Oswestry WTW to Prescot Service Reservoirs), UK
Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project
Coastal Management / Managed Realignment / Wetland Creation · 2012-2015 (Phase 1, Jubilee Marsh, opened September 2015; development continued until around 2021) · Wallasea Island, Essex, UK
Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre Upgrade (2023-2030)
Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, capacity expansion, phosphorus removal · 2023-2030 (Planned investment period) · Whitlingham, Norwich, Norfolk
York Flood Alleviation Scheme
Flood Management / Flood Defence · Post-2015 (additional funding allocated after December 2015 floods, ongoing as of May 2022 newsletter) · York, UK