Thames Water is inviting companies interested in delivering the major earthworks programme required for its proposed reservoir near Abingdon to come forward.
The reservoir, known as SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option), would guarantee the water supply of 15 million people across the South East, serving Thames Water, Southern Water and Affinity Water customers.
Thames Water says it would provide up to 271 mega litres of water per day – the equivalent to around three million baths.
The proposals come as the company forecasts it will need an additional one billion litres of water every day for its customers by 2050.
Ground investigations, embankment trials and environmental surveys are already underway at the proposed site, which is to the south west of Abingdon.
The fieldwork programme will help to inform an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate in 2026.
Designs for the new reservoir, with a capacity of up to 150 million cubic meters and a surface area of approximately seven square km, are on display for public scrutiny as part of a 12-week consultation ending on August 28.
If development consent is secured by 2028, construction of the facility is expected to start in 2029.
In anticipation of the construction process, Thames Water’s supply chain and procurement team is reaching out to potential businesses.
The aim is to highlight the wide array of contract opportunities set to emerge from the construction project.
Estimates suggest the excavation process alone could require the movement of about 45 million cubic meters of material to build the reservoir's embankments, which range from 15 to 25 meters in height.
The majority of the earthworks are expected to be carried out across six main summer working seasons, which spans from March to October.
Mohit Farmah, head of procurement and supply chain at Thames Water, said: "It’s vital that we start talking to businesses now about the opportunities that could be coming their way.
"Early engagement will ensure we have a pipeline of interested companies in place and ready to bid for contracts as soon as they are released."
He added: "If SESRO is approved for construction, it will generate hundreds of new contract opportunities for businesses to capitalise on."
Thames Water is encouraging companies interested in the earthworks programme to complete a short market sounding questionnaire by August 30.
A market brief, which provides further information on the SESRO earthworks programme, and the accompanying questionnaire can be found online.
Thames Water is also conducting future market engagement for SESRO and its wider portfolio of major infrastructure projects.
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