20 July 2010

Costain MWH has achieved preferred bidder status on a potential £15 million contract tendered by Severn Trent Water to construct a new treated water pumping station at one of its major water treatment works in Birmingham.

The award is the first competitively tendered contract by Severn Trent Water in the south of its region during AMP5.

Frankley water treatment works supplies water to around 1.4 million people in Birmingham and the surrounding area, making it a major piece of national infrastructure and a vital asset for Severn Trent Water.

In addition to the new treated water pumping station, the scheme also includes a new tank to replace the existing one that has reached the end of its functional life, and potentially, an additional new chlorine contact tank. This would help ensure drinking water standards can continue to be met while enabling existing chlorine contact tanks to be inspected and maintained.

The improvements will further increase the security and reliability of water supplies to Severn Trent's customers, while improving the overall operation and control of the treatment works. The new pumping station will ensure routine inspections and maintenance can be effectively carried out without interruptions to customers' supplies.

Early works are planned from December 2010 with major construction activities expected to be underway in the summer of 2011. The scheme is expected to take around two years to complete.

"Costain clearly put a lot of time and effort into its tender submission, and has deservedly won the opportunity to progress this highly significant project," said Severn Trent's Jonathan Wagstaff, programme manager for the project.

Costain's Water Sector Director, Matt Crabtree, said: 'This is excellent news for us. The fact that Severn Trent has chosen to entrust work on this critical asset to us is a testament to the confidence it has quickly gained in Costain MWH's ability to deliver.'

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