Private Client, New Forest

Our client owns a remote house in the New Forest which was provided mains electricity off the grid. Approximately 1 mile from our client's house, another remote property was provided mains water by Bournemouth & West Hants Water. Both properties required the utility of the other and, in a shared contract, an electricity cable was trenched in to the second house to remove the diesel generator, and mains water was trenched to our client's property to remove the need to use an iron rich well and a recently installed rainwater harvesting system.

Due to the elevational differences between both properties, the existing mains water pressure was insufficient to get the water to our client's property so a pumphouse complete with storage tank and twin pump booster station was installed to provide a constant pressure at the property.

The project scope of works comprised:

• Using a rotary wheel trencher excavator, installation of 1,400 metres of 11 kVA SWA cable with marker tape and sand backfill on behalf of Scottish & Southern Energy
• Installation of 200m of earth cables by open trench method
• Combined installation of 1,350m of 63mm MDPE blue water mains in common trench with marker tape and sand backfill
• Installation of 2,000 litre water storage facility complete with Type AB air gap to comply with water byelaws
• Installation of twin pump variable speed booster station designed to provide 6,000 litres/hour at 8 bar pressure
• Installation of pumphouse electrical items including lighting, heating and low level pump protection
• Chlorination and pressure testing of the water mains on completion
• Replacement of concrete culverts along the route and forest track re-dressing.

On successful completion and commissioning of the installation, both clients were delighted with the outcome. Our client now has a reliable drinking water supply and no longer needs to import bottled water. The Forestry Commission have removed the old diesel generator which has reduced the running costs and the inconvenience of service and maintenance. Our client commented: "I have been extremely impressed with the professionalism of the management team and the installation crew and would recommend MJ Abbott without hesitation."