Tunnelling contractors sought for £242m London drought resilience project

Thames Water is seeking tunnelling specialists for its work on the Teddington Direct River Abstraction project.

Launched this week, after a year of market engagement, the tender asks for specialists who can help deliver vital drought resilience through the completion of two tunnels. 

The first is 4.2km long, using tunnel boring to connect the new Mogden sewage treatment works to a new discharge point on the River Thames, upstream of Teddington Weir.

The second, is a 150m pipe-jacked water transfer pipe, connecting the new abstraction point with the existing Thames Lee Tunnel and water storage reservoirs in East London.

Work includes civils and structural engineering, drainage, hydraulic modelling and more.

Mohit Farmah, head of procurement and supply chain at Thames Water, said: “We’re seeking industry leading tunnelling experts to help us deliver this nationally significant infrastructure project, as we work to secure water supply for millions of Londoners.

“The capital city and our customers rely on us for a safe and secure supply of water and this project will be vital as we work to meet the challenges ahead, from a growing population to the effects of climate change, including hotter, drier summers.”

Construction is anticipated to start in 2029, subject to planning approval.

The project will enable the company to extract more water from the River Thames during periods of drought, upstream of Teddington Weir and provide supply to the Lee Valley reservoirs in East London.

The Thames would be replenished with highly treated recycled water from Mogden sewage treatment works to help protect the environment and local wildlife.

A shortfall of 1 billion litres of water every day by 2050, has been forecasted by Thames Water, with the project, which forms part of its Water Resource Management Plan, helping to provide up to 75 million litres of water every day during drought.

Approved by the government last year, and rubber stamped by water and sewerage regulator, Ofwat, it follows Thames Water’s 2025-2030 business plan.

It comes in the wake of Thames Water being recently issued fines totalling £122.7 million by Ofwat – the largest it has ever given – for breaches relating to its wastewater operations, which includes sewage overflows.

As well as the fines, Thames Water is also required to take steps to rectify the breaches and ensure future compliance.