Design and construction of improvement works at Bruton flood storage reservoir, Somerset

Following significant floods in Bruton, Somerset during 1979 and 1982, a flood storage reservoir (FSR) was constructed 1·5 km upstream of the town to provide a 100-year standard of flood protection. The storage capacity of the FSR was approximately 500 000 m³ and hence it was covered by the Reservoirs Act 1975. Various studies on the FSR were undertaken between 2000 and 2006 as a result of recommendations made during inspections executed under the Act. The Environment Agency then implemented a £2·5 million programme of remedial and improvement works, commencing on site in March 2008. The works were designed by Black & Veatch Ltd and the main contractor was Jackson Civil Engineering. Construction of the works was completed in summer 2009. The primary drivers for the scheme were the improvement of the spillway and increasing the storage capacity of the reservoir. The opportunity was also taken to construct a new trash screen at the upstream end of the outlet culvert, as the original structure did not meet current standards regarding screen area or safe access. This paper covers some of the interesting features of both the design and construction of the works.