From July to November 2025, Ground Investigation work (GI) were carried out in agricultural fields in proximity to the Broad Oak Water site.
This will provide us with information to assess the proposed location and progress the scheme.
This was not construction work and did not signal the start of the reservoir build – it was exploratory survey work to provide us with the data necessary to design the reservoir and consider how it may be built. We were not fracking, or drilling for substances, or detrimentally impacting wildlife.
What was carried out during the Ground Investigations
The works included boreholes, trial pits, geophysical surveys and groundwater monitoring. Groundwater monitoring is currently still ongoing on-site.
Soils were sampled at 161 locations, reaching depths up to 80 metres below the surface to understand the ground conditions.
Below are some images of the types of machinery on the Broad Oak Water site:
What was uncovered during the Ground Investigations
The samples taken during our works have been sent to laboratories and the findings will inform our design process and allow engineers to design and construct the project both safely and efficiently.
Testing is ongoing, however, our findings so far suggest the site is abundant in London Clay, which will be used to form the embankments and provide an impermeable layer to the reservoir’s floor.