Margate to Broadstairs Storm Water Tunnel

The project was part of Southern Water’s £80 million environmental improvement scheme to bring even cleaner seas to Margate and Broadstairs, in line with UK and European Legislation.

Thanks to the scheme, wastewater from Broadstairs is pumped to Margate Water Treatment Works (WTW), where it undergoes basic treatment. This partially-treated wastewater is then pumped 11 kilometres along a twin, 800mm-diameter ductile iron pipe to a new WTW at Weatherlees, near Sandwich.

There, the wastewater goes through several stages of treatment including ultraviolet (UV) disinfection before, being pumped back to the Margate WTW, where it is released as a clear liquid along the existing sea outfall.

The route includes two built-up areas where the pipeline travels through two tunnels – 640 metres and 1,380 metres long and 3 metres wide – built 30 metres underground.

VVB was appointed by Costain to refurbish a Lovat 131 Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and provide mechanical support for the TBM during the tunnel drives.

VVB’s role included:

• Mechanical engineering management of the TBM refurbishment
• Liaison with the TBM manufacturer, Lovat
• Refurbishment of the Lovat 131
• Testing and commissioning of the mechanical systems on the TBM
• Interfacing with the civil engineering team
• Mechanical support and supervision during the tunnel drives