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23 December 2025
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Dec 23, 2025Underground Infrasturcture
(UI) — New York State has awarded more than $453 million to 83 water and wastewater infrastructure projects statewide, funding upgrades to aging drinking water systems, sewer networks and treatment facilities, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 19.
The grants, issued through the Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure (IMG) programs, are expected to support more than $1.3 billion in total construction activity, according to the state. Projects span from Western New York to Long Island and include both drinking water and sewer improvements.
“New York families should not be burdened by rising water bills and outdated systems,” Hochul said. “With this funding, the State is helping communities take on essential projects without passing unsustainable costs to residents and businesses.”
State officials said the funding package is projected to save local ratepayers about $1.1 billion and support roughly 20,000 jobs, while accelerating projects that address aging infrastructure, regulatory compliance and emerging contaminants.
Of the total awards, $227.3 million will support 51 drinking water projects, while $225.8 million will fund 32 sewer projects. The grants are administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, in coordination with the Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation.
Several awards include enhanced funding for small, rural and disadvantaged communities, where grant coverage was increased from 25% to 50% of eligible project costs. Those projects include new sewer districts, wastewater treatment plant upgrades and sewer extensions designed to replace failing septic systems.
Enhanced grants also target emerging contaminants, including PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, with some projects eligible for up to 70% state cost coverage. Officials said those awards are intended to reduce financial barriers for communities facing costly drinking water treatment requirements.
The announcement was made in Albany County, where a $25 million grant will support upgrades to the county’s North and South wastewater treatment plants, originally built in the 1970s. The work is expected to improve treatment reliability and reduce impacts to the Hudson River.
Since 2015, New York has awarded more than $3.4 billion through the WIIA and IMG programs, according to the state.
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Anglian Water Awards £150 Million Amp8/9 Framework Contract For Tankering ServicesScope of the contract includes the provision of larger numbers of tankers at very short notice - tankering can be anywhere across the Anglian Water region
The water company iconducted a single-stage procurement process for the provision of liquid tankering services across its operational region. The framework will cover all tankering requirements, including emergency response, where suppliers must be capable of deploying a large number of tankers at very short notice.
The contract was tendered in the following Lots on a regional basis:
Eighteen companies have been awarded a place on the framework which has an estimated overall value of £150 million (inc VAT).
The standstill period is due to end on 5 January 2026 and the earliest date the contract will be signed is 6 January 2026.
Estimated start and end contract dates are 6 January 2026 to 22 December 2030 with possible further extension options to 22 December 2033.
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23 December 20251 min readAnglian Water Awards £150 Million Amp8/9 Framework Contract For Tankering Services
Water Briefing
23 December 2025
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New York Awards $453 Million For Water, Sewer Upgrades Statewide(UI) — New York State has awarded more than $453 million to 83 water and wastewater infrastructure projects statewide, funding upgrades to aging drinking water systems, sewer networks and treatment facilities, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 19.
The grants, issued through the Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure (IMG) programs, are expected to support more than $1.3 billion in total construction activity, according to the state. Projects span from Western New York to Long Island and include both drinking water and sewer improvements.
“New York families should not be burdened by rising water bills and outdated systems,” Hochul said. “With this funding, the State is helping communities take on essential projects without passing unsustainable costs to residents and businesses.”
State officials said the funding package is projected to save local ratepayers about $1.1 billion and support roughly 20,000 jobs, while accelerating projects that address aging infrastructure, regulatory compliance and emerging contaminants.
Of the total awards, $227.3 million will support 51 drinking water projects, while $225.8 million will fund 32 sewer projects. The grants are administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, in coordination with the Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation.
Several awards include enhanced funding for small, rural and disadvantaged communities, where grant coverage was increased from 25% to 50% of eligible project costs. Those projects include new sewer districts, wastewater treatment plant upgrades and sewer extensions designed to replace failing septic systems.
Enhanced grants also target emerging contaminants, including PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, with some projects eligible for up to 70% state cost coverage. Officials said those awards are intended to reduce financial barriers for communities facing costly drinking water treatment requirements.
The announcement was made in Albany County, where a $25 million grant will support upgrades to the county’s North and South wastewater treatment plants, originally built in the 1970s. The work is expected to improve treatment reliability and reduce impacts to the Hudson River.
Since 2015, New York has awarded more than $3.4 billion through the WIIA and IMG programs, according to the state.
Underground Infrasturcture
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23 December 20252 min readNew York Awards $453 Million For Water, Sewer Upgrades Statewide
Underground Infrasturcture
23 December 2025
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Scottish Water Confirms 7 Preferred Bidders To Deliver Multi-Billion Pound Transformation Of Water And Waste Water InfrastructureFirms were invited to bid to be involved in a ground-breaking enterprise-style approach to enhancing Scotland’s water and waste water infrastructure over the period 2027 to 2033, with a potential extension for another six years.
Following the largest procurement ever undertaken by Scottish Water, the publicly-owned utility has announced that the preferred bidders are:
Director of Capital Investment, Rob Mustard, said:
"The Enterprise is the most significant programme of investment and way of working we have ever implemented. It supports our goals of financial sustainability, customer and service excellence, and going beyond net zero, all while contributing to a flourishing Scotland.”
“Primary Designers will be accountable for design across the Enterprise, ensuring that our designs deliver our outcomes, and Asset Delivery Partners will drive programme and project delivery, ensuring successful execution of capital works in line with those outcomes.
“Once the legalities are completed, we see these organisations working with Scottish Water to form our Enterprise, delivering a third of SR27 investments for our customers.”
The procurement process started on November 25, 2024, and is expected to be fully completed by March 2026.
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20 December 20251 min readScottish Water Confirms 7 Preferred Bidders To Deliver Multi-Billion Pound Transformation Of Water And Waste Water Infrastructure
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20 December 2025
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Uisce Éireann To Lodge Planning Application For Water Supply Project Worth Between €4.58 Billion To €5.96 BillionThe Strategic Infrastructure Development planning application and Compulsory Purchase Order application for the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The planning application will consist of over 500 separate documents.
Water supply in the Eastern and Midlands region faces major challenges, notably the over-reliance on a single source to supply 1.7 million people. When delivered, te once-in-a-generation project will ensure a sustainable, secure and resilient supply of drinking water to the Greater Dublin Area and wider Eastern and Midlands region. It will also enable the water company to adapt to the effects of climate change by diversifying its water supply sources.
The essential project will provide Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe, secure water supply. It will also create a treated water supply ‘spine’ across the country, providing infrastructure with the capacity for future offtakes to serve communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly, and Westmeath. In addition, the project will enable supplies currently serving Dublin to be redirected back to Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow, providing security of supply to homes and businesses, which will support growth and promote regional development.
The Water Supply Project proposes to draw water from Parteen Basin, upstream of Parteen Weir on the Lower River Shannon, utilising a maximum of 2% of the long-term average flow at Parteen Basin. It is proposed that the water will be treated near Birdhill, Co Tipperary and treated water will then be piped 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area water distribution network.
Image: Water Supply Project Map
Subject to a successful planning application, Uisce Éireann proposes to start construction in 2028, with completion within five years, with a budget estimate of between €4.58 billion and €5.96 billion. Based on the cost estimate, Uisce Éireann say the project can deliver in excess of €10 for every €1 of project costs, representing a positive investment for the State.
At peak construction, the project will employ more than 1,000 people directly, with a significant associated spend on local supplier goods and services. Uisce Éireann is proposing a bespoke Community Benefit Scheme as part of the Water Supply Project, to support communities that will host construction activities and permanent infrastructure.
Speaking about the project, Maria O’Dwyer, Infrastructure Delivery Director at Uisce Éireann said:
“The need is clear - the growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience in the Eastern & Midlands Region is simply not sustainable. It is estimated that 34% more water will be needed by 2044 in the Greater Dublin Area. This project is critical to enable us to support housing delivery and is backed by the Government’s continued funding commitment. Over the coming months we will continue to engage with potential contractors and progress the procurement process so that, subject to the planning approval, works can be mobilised as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, commented:
“The submission of this planning application for the Water Supply Project to An Coimisiún Pleanála is a major milestone that will unlock housing in the Eastern and Midlands Region. This project is a vital piece of infrastructure to support Ireland’s development, not alone in the delivery of new homes for young people, families and workers in our economy, but to sustain businesses and communities right through the Midlands and Eastern region of our country.”
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16 December 20253 min readUisce Éireann To Lodge Planning Application For Water Supply Project Worth Between €4.58 Billion To €5.96 Billion
Water Briefing
16 December 2025
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Melbourne Businesses Save Seventy Million Litres Through Smart Water MonitoringYarra Valley Water is working with businesses to reduce operating costs and improve water efficiency through the Victorian Government’s WaterSmart programme, which saved seventy million litres of water and $366,000 in bills in the last financial year.
The WaterSmart programme is funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by Victoria’s water corporations. It provides businesses with digital water monitoring, audits and practical insights to improve water use and identify leaks.
Natalie Foeng, managing director at Yarra Valley Water, said the programme played an important role in saving water.
“Melbourne’s storages have dropped by more than thirteen per cent in the past twelve months due to drier conditions, so every litre we save matters,” she said.
“WaterSmart gives businesses the tools and visibility to make practical changes that will have a lasting impact. Small adjustments can deliver big results, and it is encouraging to see so many organisations taking action.”
Ford is among one hundred and seventy businesses Yarra Valley Water has supported through the initiative.
Steve Verescuk, environmental facility compliance supervisor at Ford Australia, said WaterSmart helped the company identify water saving opportunities.
“As a business, reducing our environmental impact is important, and this programme has greatly supported that effort,” he said.
“The data loggers installed through the programme allow us to monitor our water use in real time. They have already enabled us to detect and repair a couple of leaks, saving a substantial amount of water.”
Jim Child, mayor of Yarra Ranges Council, said the council has also saved water through the programme.
“Our staff have had great success with the WaterSmart programme. It allows us to remotely monitor water use at key sites, which helps us identify leaks and issues,” he said.
“Given the increasingly hot and dry conditions associated with climate change, conserving water is more critical than ever, particularly in high-use community spaces.”
“We have had several examples where data and leak alerts from digital monitoring have helped us address leaks, saving significant amounts of water and money.”
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12 December 20252 min readMelbourne Businesses Save Seventy Million Litres Through Smart Water Monitoring
Water waste water asia
12 December 2025
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Melbourne’S 1.8-Billion-Litre Recycled Water SchemeThe Victorian Government and South East Water are looking to unlock economic opportunities in Melbourne’s south-east through the Dingley Recycled Water Scheme.
Stage one of the scheme will see the construction of a 25km pipeline, a 12km transfer main from Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant to Bangholme, and a 13km connecting network to Bayside suburbs.
This will provide 1.8 billion litres of Class A recycled water per year to more than 40 parks, golf courses, nurseries and more, taking the pressure off drinking water resources and reducing the need to draw water from dams and rivers.
This scheme is expected to generate more than $90 million for the local economy while creating 240 jobs, with golf courses, agriculture and nursery businesses to benefit.
“Increasing the use of fit-for-purposes recycled water to help conserve and take pressure off our drinking water supplies is an important sustainability initiative for our growing population for the next 50 years,” Victorian Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson said.
“This project ensures Melburnians and visitors can continue to enjoy their favourite green spaces all year round, even in drier conditions.”
Abergeldie, BMD and KBR – through the ABK joint venture – are carrying out the works through South East Water’s Integrated Planning and Delivery Model.
“Delivering this scheme is about more than building a pipeline,” ABK program director Daniel Turcinovich said. “It reflects the highest standards of innovation and collaboration to build a more sustainable water future for Melbourne’s south-east.”
The scheme, which forms part of the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy, is backed by a $24 million investment from the Victorian Government.
It’s expected to start delivering recycled water in 2027.
Subscribe to Pump Industry to discover all the latest industry news, technical articles and thought-leading content from Australia’s only dedicated pump magazine.
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11 December 20252 min readMelbourne’S 1.8-Billion-Litre Recycled Water Scheme
Pump Industry
11 December 2025
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Waterline Breaks Force Overnight Closure At Grand Canyon; $208 Million Replacement Project UnderwayGRAND CANYON, Ariz. (UI) — Grand Canyon National Park will temporarily suspend overnight lodging on the South Rim beginning Dec. 6 due to major breaks in the park’s aging 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline — a critical underground system that delivers water from the inner canyon to the South Rim.
The National Park Service (NPS) said water is currently not being pumped to the South Rim, prompting new restrictions on lodging and camping until repairs are made. While the park remains open for day use, all overnight accommodations inside the park — including Xanterra-operated hotels such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge and Maswik Lodge, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village — will close temporarily. Hotels in nearby Tusayan will not be affected.
Dry camping will be permitted at Mather Campground, though spigot access will be turned off. Faucets in bathrooms and at the check-in kiosk will remain available. The park has also prohibited all wood and charcoal fires, including campfires and barbeques.
The waterline failure underscores ongoing infrastructure challenges in one of the nation’s most visited parks. Originally constructed in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline has far exceeded its intended lifespan, requiring frequent and costly repairs.
In 2023, NPS launched a $208 million rehabilitation project to replace the failing system and upgrade the park’s broader water delivery network — an effort aimed at securing reliable water service for 5 million annual visitors and 2,500 year-round residents. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
“These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,” NPS said in a statement. “The goal is to restore full operational status for overnight guests on the South Rim as quickly as possible.”
South Rim residents are being urged to conserve water by limiting showers, minimizing laundry loads, and reporting any leaks. Hikers are also advised to carry sufficient water or treatment methods when venturing into the backcountry.
Underground Infrasturcture
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05 December 20252 min readWaterline Breaks Force Overnight Closure At Grand Canyon; $208 Million Replacement Project Underway
Underground Infrasturcture
05 December 2025
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Thames Water Gets Go-Ahead From Creditors To Access Further Funding From £1.5 Billion FacilityOn 10 November 2025,Thames Water announced announced the launch of its fifth Consent Requests for Super Senior Issuer Funding from the initial £1.5 billion available under its super senior liquidity facility – to date it has so far drawn £872 million of the facility. The water company entered into the facility with its subsidiary, Thames Water Super Senior Issuer PLC.
The consents will allow Thames Water to draw a further £321 million in November 2025.
The Facility includes conditions precedent to drawdowns, including the so-called June Release Condition, which (as amended on 15 July 2025) requires Thames Water to have entered into a supported lock-up agreement by 31 July 2025 in respect of a second restructuring plan. However, the June Release Condition was not met.
The fifth Consent Requests launched by Thames and the Super Senior Issuer sought the consent of the super senior creditors:
Whilst the June Release Condition remains unsatisfied, any further drawdowns of the remaining balance of the £1.5 billion facility by the water company will be subject to further consents and conditions having first been obtained or satisfied. Subject to the satisfaction or further extension of the June Release Condition, Thames expects to make further drawdowns of the facility in the first quarter of 2026.
It is not intended that the utility will access the further £1.5 billion Accordion Facility under the super senior liquidity facility until, amongst other things, the initial £1.5 billion facility has been drawn in full.
The Accordion Facility is expected, if and when it becomes available to Thames, to provide liquidity until at least the third quarter of 2026.
Given the approvals, Thames and the Super Senior Issuer will proceed with the implementation of the consents and amendments outlined in the Fifth Consent Requests.
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25 November 20252 min readThames Water Gets Go-Ahead From Creditors To Access Further Funding From £1.5 Billion Facility
Water Briefing
25 November 2025
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New Report From Nhbc Foundation Projects Five Billion Litre Potable Water Shortfall In Uk By 2050This comprehensive report examines water efficiency and water reuse in residential development in an international context. It features comment and analysis from ten countries demonstrating leadership in water management in the urban environment, with a focus on housing developments.
Demand for water globally is rising due to a range of factors including population growth, urbanisation and increasing need from agricultural, industrial and energy sectors. Across the globe total freshwater use was four trillion m3 per year in 2014. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during the last six decades municipal water consumption grew at the fastest rate when compared to other uses.
The Water Compendium reveals that the UK can expect a projected short fall in potable water of five billion litres per day by 2050. To address this gap the government has announced ambitious targets, some of which relate to reductions in domestic water supply. While every country is unique, the Water Compendium encourages the UK not to ignore critical insights and learn from successes in other geographical areas.
The countries studied in this new publication, which included Japan, the Netherlands and the United States, were assessed against the same set of parameters and presented in a unified format for easy comparison. Each country report provides information on the geographic, climatic and statistical indicators, as well as a brief review of their approach to water efficiency targeting and decentralised water reuse. Country reports also include the description of applicable requirements, central and regional/local policies, incentives (where available) and a project that serves as an example of an innovative scheme representative of good practice in that country.
The Water Compendium also provides definition of water reuse terminology. Decentralised water reuse is defined as the process of collecting, treating and reusing alternative water at or near its source. Types of alternative water sources that are most often reused in residential developments include rainwater, stormwater, greywater and wastewater.
Additionally, the report also looks at and clarifies sustainability rating standards; some new developments and refurbishment projects are designed and constructed to achieve certain ratings under different sustainability standards. Higher ratings often serve as a prerequisite for attracting sustainability-conscious investors, buyers and tenants. Most popular rating schemes include water efficiency as an assessment category and the introduction of water reuse can be driven by the desire to achieve higher ratings.
Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Innovation & Research at NHBC, the UK’s leading independent provider of warranty and insurance for new homes, commented:
“Water is our most precious resource and vital to us all. The Water Compendium not only highlights the need to understand and manage water usage but also considers practical, real-world examples of how safe, clean water can be made available to everyone. That’s why I’m delighted this report from NHBC Foundation is so comprehensive - it looks at the issue of domestic water use and how this impacts house building in a broader context, considering solutions from a global perspective.”
Click here to download the report
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25 November 20253 min readNew Report From Nhbc Foundation Projects Five Billion Litre Potable Water Shortfall In Uk By 2050
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25 November 2025
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Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Set To Invest £665 Million In 2025/26The investment is part of its largest-ever capital investment programme of over £4 billion for the 5 years up to the end of AMP8 in March 2030.
Together with its company-wide transformation programme (known as Trawsnewid) the investment will deliver improvements for customers, communities, and the environment.
The first months of the year also recorded Wales’ warmest summer on record, and despite Natural Resources Wales placing much of Wales in environmental drought, Welsh Water avoided any restrictions on customers’ water supplies.
The record investment is delivering major and innovative projects such as the recently opened £13 million wetland storm overflow at Pont-y-felin in Torfaen - the first of its kind in the UK. By harnessing the natural filtering power of wetlands, the site is already reducing the company’s impact on local rivers and setting a model for future sustainable investment.
In October Welsh Water also launched consultations on the largest infrastructure project in the company’s history – the Cwm Taf Water Supply Strategy. The plans will modernise the drinking water network across South Wales, replacing century-old treatment facilities and increasing clean water storage capacity.
While climate change has continued to impact the company’s services over the last six months, despite the prolonged dry periods over spring and summer, careful management of water supplies meant there was no need for temporary restrictions or ‘hosepipe bans’ across the water company’s operating area
In the 6 months between April and September 2025, the company made progress on reducing incidents of internal and external flooding, improving river water quality and overall pollution incidents and building on the 576km of rivers improved between 2020 and 2025.
Although the company’s Environmental Performance Assessment will remain at two stars, improvements were noted in four of the seven elements of the EPA measure in the last year, and the total number of pollution incidents is the second lowest in the industry.
However, Welsh Water company acknowledges the need to continue making changes in some areas of performance and has detailed plans in place to address this, including improving discharge permit compliance at wastewater treatment works and reducing serious pollution incidents.
Performance metrics highlighted in the report include:
In the six months to 30 September 2025 revenue increased by 27% to £583 million (2024: £461 million), primarily reflecting customer price increases. and capital investment totalled £288 million (2024: £295 million).
Adjusted operating profit of £103 million improved by £104 million (2024: £1 million loss) reflecting the revenue increase. This was partially offset by higher operating costs driven by an increase in bad debt charges (£7 million) as a result of the customer price increases, inflationary pay awards to staff (£2 million), spend to protect compliance activities (£2 million) and £3 million customer compensation payments following major bursts compounded by a one-off business rate refund of £4 million in the prior period.
Transformation and restructuring costs of £15 million relate to theTrawsnewid transformation programme, split £7 million professional services costs and £8 million employee related restructuring costs.
The Group reported a loss before taxation of £29 million (2024: £54 million).
Gearing has stayed at 62% since March 2025, remaining well within the threshold of the Group’s covenants and existing credit rating. Credit ratings remain at BBB+/Baa1/A- for senior Class B debt from Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch respectively.
Welsh Water raised £450 million in capital from investors in September, and has embarked on the company-wide transformation programme which aims to improve processes, make better use of technology and ensure that the company’s funds are focussed on front line delivery of services.
In order to maintain its finances on a stable footing, the utility is reducing the number of people employed by the company by 500 – or 12% of the workforce - over the course of the next 18-24 months. “This is a decision that we did not want to take, but it is necessary,” Peter Perry commented.
The company continues to have strong credit ratings and the transformation programme which is well underway is a key part of maintaining this position. Earlier this year, the average household bill increased by 27% and the transformation programme is to review how customer money is spent by the company, how efficient its processes are, and ensuring that value for money is achieved across the supply chain.
Photo: Welsh Water CEO Peter Perry
Commenting on the interim results, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water CEO Peter Perry said:
“Whilst we face many challenges today, operational performance is incomparable to what they were when Welsh Water became a not-for-profit company almost 25 years ago. The targets we must meet continue to get tougher as regulators rightly want to push for higher standards; but maintaining increasingly aging assets and the real impact of climate change are making it ever more difficult to strike an acceptable balance between performance improvements and building resilience for the future, at a cost that is acceptable to our customers. We cannot do everything, everywhere all at once – it is not affordable or deliverable, and we must therefore work ever closer with our customers to agree how limited resource is prioritised.
Peter Perry will retire in spring 2026 after a 45-year career in the sector, with CEO-elect Roch Cheroux, former CEO of Sydney Water, taking the helm in January.
Water Briefing
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21 November 20255 min readDŵr Cymru Welsh Water Set To Invest £665 Million In 2025/26
Water Briefing
21 November 2025
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California Groundwater Agency Seeks $5 Million In Federal Funding For 50-Mile Pipeline ProjectRIDGECREST, Calif. (UI) — The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) is pursuing $5 million in federal funding to kickstart construction of a 50-mile Water Replenishment Pipeline, a critical project aimed at stabilizing groundwater levels in one of California’s most water-stressed regions.
According to IWVGA’s congressional funding request, the project would connect the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Basin with the State Water Project, delivering up to 6,431 acre-feet per year of imported water by 2070. The proposed pipeline, ranging from 18 to 24 inches in diameter, would run from California City to Ridgecrest, with booster pump stations and storage tanks along the route.
The total project cost is estimated at $200 million, with IWVGA providing a $1.25 million non-federal match for the first construction phase. The initial $5 million request was submitted under the Energy and Water Development Act for Fiscal Year 2027, supported by Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
“This project is essential to achieving long-term water sustainability,” IWVGA Chairman Scott Hayman stated in a letter to federal lawmakers. “Without it, future water needs—both for the community and for the U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake—cannot be met.”
The project aligns with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requirement to bring basins into balance by 2040. Design and environmental permitting are underway, with construction targeted to begin in 2027 pending U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approval and appropriations.
If funding is approved, the Corps would oversee mobilization, materials procurement, right-of-way acquisition, and initial tank construction during fiscal year 2027.
Underground Infrasturcture
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21 November 20252 min readCalifornia Groundwater Agency Seeks $5 Million In Federal Funding For 50-Mile Pipeline Project
Underground Infrasturcture
21 November 2025
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Severn Trent Engages Market On £200M Northern Section Of Ambitious Water Transfer ProjectSevern Trent Water has launched a second stage of preliminary market engagement for the delivery of the Minworth Strategic Resource Option (SRO), an integral component of the broader Grand Union Canal Transfer (GUCT) scheme.
Valued at an estimated £200M excluding VAT, the project aims to significantly bolster water security in the southeast of England by transferring highly treated recycled water from the Midlands.
The Minworth SRO focuses on the northern section of the wider GUCT initiative, centred on the construction of an Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) at Severn Trent’s existing Minworth site. This state-of-the-art facility will treat recycled water to a high standard before it is transferred via a 17km underground pipeline to an outfall in the Coventry Canal at Atherstone. From there, the water will be transported along the canal network as part of the GUCT project, which ultimately serves to meet increasing water demand in the Southeast.
Stages of Severn Trent’s Minworth SRO
This announcement follows the initial preliminary market engagement carried out in the summer, with Severn Trent now inviting potential suppliers to participate in one-to-one and deep dive sessions. These sessions are designed to cover a range of topics critical to the project’s success, including delivery models, procurement updates, early contractor involvement, asset and water quality considerations, sustainability and social value, as well as innovation and digital integration.
Severn Trent’s current thinking is that the procurement will be structured around seven lots, allowing for flexible participation by contractors. These lots cover various combinations of the AWTP asset, water quality management and pipeline corridor responsibilities. Interested parties can apply for one or multiple lots depending on their expertise and capacity. Currently, the estimated contract period is projected to run from December 2028 through to December 2030.
The engagement deadline for the current round of preliminary market engagement is set for 28 November.
Severn Trent plans to conduct a third round of market engagement in late 2025, which will finalise the procurement strategy ahead of a formal procurement launch in early 2027.
Distinctly, the Minworth SRO will be delivered in-house by Severn Trent, contrasting with the Grand Union Canal SRO in the south, which Affinity Water is managing through the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) process.
The Grand Union Canal Transfer project represents a collaborative effort between Severn Trent Water and Affinity Water, aiming to transport surplus treated wastewater from the Midlands to the increasingly water-stressed southeast. The initiative is a strategic response to long-term water demand challenges, offering a sustainable and innovative pathway to improve regional water resilience. Mott MacDonald and Adams Henry Consulting are aiding in drawing up the development consent order (DCO) application for the scheme.
By constructing the AWTP at Minworth and facilitating the underground transfer of water to the Coventry Canal, Severn Trent is advancing a critical piece of infrastructure that will underpin the success of the wider GUCT programme. The project not only addresses environmental and sustainability objectives but also aligns with broader social value goals, underscoring the company’s commitment to responsible resource management.
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18 November 20253 min readSevern Trent Engages Market On £200M Northern Section Of Ambitious Water Transfer Project
New Civil Engineer- Water
18 November 2025
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