Helicopter used for Ulwell reservoir repairs

A helicopter was brought in to carry around 44 tons of machinery and materials up a steep hill near Swanage as part of a tricky reservoir improvement project.

Wessex Water’s Ulwell reservoir is located on a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is 80 metres above the village of Ulwell.

Advertisement 
Ulwell reservoir
Wessex Water

A helicopter was brought in to lift equipment and materials up the hill

“Other options weren’t feasible”

As the service reservoir is only accessible by foot, the water and sewerage company decided to use a helicopter to carry its equipment up the hill.

Dave Fear, Wessex Water project manager, said:

“The decision to use a helicopter to transport machinery and materials came after we realised other options, such as using a crane, weren’t feasible.”

Ulwell reservoir
Wessex Water

The helictopter took the ‘heavy lifting’ out of the work

“Smallest impact”

Dave explained:

“We liaised with our environment team, Natural England and the local authority to decide which option would have the smallest impact on the local environment.

“By using a helicopter, we were able to ensure green spaces on the hill weren’t damaged during the scheme.”

Ulwell reservoir
Wessex Water

The Ulwell reservoir supplies water to the village below

Ensure water quality

Wessex Water regularly inspects, cleans and maintains all its service reservoirs to ensure drinking water quality is maintained.

Ulwell Reservoir is a single compartment concrete construction that was built in 1930 and supplies drinking water to the village of Ulwell.

The work, which will be completed in November, will help maintain a safe supply of drinking water for customers in the surrounding area for at least the next twenty years.

Ulwell reservoir
Wessex Water

The Ulwell reservoir is in a site of special scientific interest

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

Actor Robson Green wraps Jurassic Coast filming for TV walk show Granchester star Robson Green has just finished three weeks filming along the Jurassic Coast from Studland to Lyme Regis in Dorset for a new eight part TV series which is ... 1 month ago Kindness of Purbeck keeps Tiff in the house her Jack built 4 weeks ago New plans for Swanage seafront and Shore Road unveiled 2 weeks ago Reopened pub at Norden aims to pull in custom all year round 3 weeks ago Ron the Seal photo bombs MPs beach clean campaign at Durdle Door 1 week ago

Most recent

Man in his 50s dies after climbing incident at Anvil Point Reports of climbers in the sea at Anvil Point near Swanage in Dorset, triggered a multi agency response including the air ambulance, coastguard helicopter, ambulance paramedics, three lifeboats, police, and ... 5 hours ago Offspring thank Swanage wartime hero for saving parents’ lives 1 day ago Tributes paid to Swanage former mayor after unexpected death 2 days ago Swanage flower shop in running for a national business award 3 days ago Memorial to boys killed on Swanage Beach unveiled 4 days ago