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Before:
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View
of the main Filter House before the start of demolition.
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During:
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The
Filter House during demolition of the water filters.
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After:
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A
view across the site with the works complete.
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UKAEA operated the works from 1949 until 1995,when demand
for water for the Harwell site declined to the point when adequate
supplies could be obtained from the mains. In its heyday, the works could
provide up to one million gallons of water a day from the River Thames
via a 10km pipeline.
There were three main buildings: the Pump/Filter House, the Purification
House and the Substation Building, as well as holding tanks and a lagoon.
Water from the Thames was fed under gravity in a large main under the
village to the works.
The main treated water tanks were so big they resembled a succession of
underground rooms. They presented a potentially serious risk to anyone
entering the site unauthorised. Despite steps being taken to secure the
building and daily security patrols, there had been break-ins at the site.
So in late 2001, following a competitive exercise, UKAEA awarded a
contract to Callaghan Demolition Ltd to demolish the buildings of the
former water treatment plant, backfill the underground tanks and clear
the surrounding land areas. Glanville Consultants undertook supervision
of the works at the site.
The location of the works presented the demolition team with challenges
not usually encountered in UKAEA projects. Because of the quiet nature of
the area, with the church and residential properties close by, a key
objective of the contract was to minimise disturbance to the local
community. To achieve this, working hours were restricted and the plan
used was chosen to ensure noise and vibration levels were kept to a
minimum.
A quieter, lightweight crusher was brought in and noise and vibration
limits were agreed in advance with the local authority and continuously
monitored. The restricted access to the site meant that there were
limitations on the size of plant that could be used. Crushed brick and concrete
were used to fill the tanks, to minimise the need for traffic movements
along the village lane.
The project began in January 2002 and was completed in May. The buildings
proved to be very solidly built, with some tough concrete and extensive
steel reinforcing. Steel sheet piling, not marked on the drawings,
surrounded the water tanks under the Pump/Filter House. However, the
project team worked together to safely tackle these problems with minimal
delay to the programme.
The demolition of the buildings at Sutton Courtney Water Works has
removed both an eyesore and a potential safety hazard. It marks a major
step forward in UKAEA's restoration programme for the site. The whole
project team worked hard to minimise the impact of the work on local residents,
and good relations were maintained throughout.
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