INVESTIGATIVE work has been completed on land earmarked for a new reservoir between Rowlands Castle and Leigh Park.

Drilling rigs and excavators have been in operation on Portsmouth Water land on Havant Thicket since early November. Underground water monitors were installed and soil samples were extracted during the operation, which was completed on schedule despite the wet conditions.

The samples are now being analysed in a laboratory and the results will help inform the company’s plans to transform the site.

“We’re delighted to have completed this first step of vital investigations on time, despite some very wet weather, which has made the ground conditions on site quite challenging,” said Portsmouth Water chief executive officer Bob Taylor.

“The information will help us prepare the planning application for Havant Thicket Reservoir, which we hope to submit in autumn 2020.”

A dozen trial pits and 21 boreholes ranging from ten to 65 metres in depth were excavated and water monitors were installed to accurately chart the fluctuation of groundwater levels. The reservoir is being developed in partnership with Southern Water to secure more reliable supplies across the region.