• Farm Reservoirs

    As demand for food and water continues to increase and as our weather patterns become more unpredictable, long dry spells and summer droughts can spell disaster for farmers and their crops.

    There is therefore an urgent need for a more flexible and positive approach to abstracting and storing water on farms.

    Reservoirs allow farms to guarantee the supply of water and meet the specifications expected by retail chains. Up to 40% of farmers currently irrigate their farms using reservoirs.

    Consulting Engineers, Calvert Brain and Fraulo Ltd of King’s Lynn, Norfolk have been involved in the design and construction of more than twenty five farm reservoirs since 1995.

    The popularity of building reservoirs increased dramatically when funding became available through the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Funding is likely to be available again in 2012 through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), part of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

    This website is designed to assist anybody contemplating the construction of a Farm Reservoir. Further more detailed advice can be obtained by contacting Roy Brain or Mike Calvert at the offices of Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd.

  • Identifying the Site

    The farmer will usually consider various sites with the engineer. The operation of the farm, particularly in relation to existing irrigation infrastructure, will be of primary importance in the initial identification of potential sites.

    When choosing a site consideration needs to be given to the possibility of flooding of property as a result of a breach of the reservoir as well as the proximity to ecologically sensitive areas, sites of possible archaeological interest and, of course ground conditions. Ground conditions are usually investigated prior to making a planning application.

    The initial site investigation will normally use a tracked excavator to dig trial holes to a depth of 6m or, if necessary, a shell & auger rig or window sampler rig will be used, which are able to investigate down to depths of 10 – 20m and beyond.

    Roy Brain, Principal of Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd says : “It is always important to investigate whether or not clay soils exist on a farm, because if there is a plentiful supply, its use negates the need to pay for a plastic liner, which can increase costs by up to 100%”.

  • Planning Approval

    The planning process considers matters such as flood risk, ecology and archaeology as well as siting, design, external appearance and visual impact.

    A preliminary reservoir design will need to be prepared for planning purposes in order to determine basic parameters such as footprint, embankment height and cross section which will be required by the Planning Authorities when considering the application.

    The planning process usually commences with a Prior Notification application to the appropriate Planning Authority which determines whether or not the reservoir can be constructed under Permitted Development Rights conveyed by The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, Schedule 2, Part 6. The outcome of a Prior Notification application will either result in an approval, sometimes with conditions, or notice that a Full Planning application is required.

    If there are concerns that an Environmental Impact Assessment may be required then a request for a Screening Opinion can be made in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

    It is important to establish that Planning Approval can be obtained prior to committing significant funding to further investigation, reporting and detailed design.

    Roy says : “The difficulties encountered in obtaining planning permission associated with concerns over flood risk and ecology have made the whole process far more complicated in recent years - but Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd have the knowledge and experience to help farmers overcome these obstacles”.

  • Designing Your Reservoir

    Prior to commencement of detailed design further site investigation is likely to be required to determine accurate soil parameters for design purposes.

    The preliminary reservoir design completed pre-planning may need significant development as costs for the preliminary design are kept to a minimum until a positive outcome is obtained to the planning process.

    Detailed design proceeds based on the parameters established by the further site investigation. The reservoir is modelled using specialist ground modelling software according to the topography and geology of the site.

    The detailed design will determine the storage volume of the reservoir as well as cut and fill volumes plus allowable slopes for the embankments. Embankment slopes will depend upon the stability of the ground at the site as well as practical gradients for installing a liner in cases where the reservoir is not to be clay lined. Generally clay reservoirs will have shallower slopes than plastic lined reservoirs due to stability issues with the clay embankments.

    The most usual types of reservoir construction are :

    • Granular or chalk embankments with a plastic lining.
    • Granular or chalk embankments lined with clay.
    • Basin excavation and embankment constructed in clay.

  • Tendering and Construction of the Works

    Following completion of the working drawings, specification and bill of quantities, contract documents are prepared and tenders are invited from suitably qualified contractors. Alternatively the undertaker / client may choose to negotiate with a single contractor.

    The construction of a Farm Reservoir will invoke the Construction Design & Management Regulations 2007 (CDM Regulations). The undertaker / client will therefore need to appoint a CDM Coordinator in order to comply with these regulations. Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd are also able to fulfil this role if required.

    A 30 million gallon reservoir, depending upon whether it is lined or not, typically takes between 8 and 14 weeks to build given reasonable weather conditions. It is important to bear in mind that earthworks construction between mid November and early April is difficult if not impossible – it is far better to build in the Spring / Summer or early Autumn.

  • The Reservoirs Act 1975

    The Reservoirs Act 1975 requires any reservoir capable of storing 25,000 cubic metres (5.5 million gallons) or more of water above natural ground level to have its design and construction overseen and approved by an appropriately qualified Civil Engineer appointed to the appropriate Panel under the Act – referred to as a Panel Engineer. The Panel Engineer appointed to oversee the construction of a reservoir is referred to as the Construction Engineer.

    This requirement normally means that any reservoir built using a traditional cut / fill balance of earthworks will need to be overseen by a Panel Engineer if its total storage capacity is greater than 10 million gallons.

    The Construction Engineer retains responsibility for the Reservoir up to the issue of the Final Certificate – which has to be issued not less than 3 years and normally not more than 5 years after completion of construction of the reservoir.

    After the issue of the Final Certificate, the Construction Engineer’s involvement must fall away and the undertaker must appoint a different Panel Engineer – a Supervising (Panel) Engineer.

    The Supervising Engineer has a continuing appointment and is responsible for continuous oversight of the reservoir, reporting to the owner on an annual basis. Not less than two years after the issue of the Final Certificate the reservoir must be inspected by an All Reservoirs (or Non-impounding Reservoirs) Panel Engineer who is independent of both the Construction Engineer and his firm. Inspections by such an engineer must thereafter take place not less often than every 10 years.

  • Funding

    Funding for farm reservoirs was available until the end of April 2012 under the Rural Economy Grant (REG) scheme.

    The NFU is lobbying the Government to recognise the importance of agriculture and a sustainable water supply. Ministers are working on a Water Bill, due to be unveiled in 2013, and the NFU hopes to see provision in the Bill that may make it easier for farmers to build reservoirs.

    NFU water policy adviser Paul Hammett, said in an article in the Farmers Weekly, "the main lesson learnt from the 2010-12 drought was the need for more storage to capture water when it is plentiful and make use of it when it is scarce. Increased water security on farms should help improve our food security,". He added, "measures that reduce the bureaucracy surrounding water storage and management would also be welcomed"

    The NFU is urging the government to embark on a strategic programme of reservoir building to prepare for future droughts.

    Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd are monitoring developments in legislation and funding, and can advise landowners of the current situation as it develops.

  • Case Studies

    1. Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG - 1995
    2. Warren Gun Breck, Gooderstone - 73MG - 1995
    3. Battles East, Marham - 20MG - 1995
    4. Swaffham Road, Ickburgh - 15MG - 1995
    5. Hangar End, Marham - 10MG - 1996
    6. 14 Acre Field, Swaffham - 40MG - 1996
    7. Manor Farm, Middleton - 20MG - 1996
    8. Golder Hill, Roydon - 30MG - 1996
    9. White Hall Farm, Salter's Lode - 12MG - 1996
    10. Stoney Hills, Heacham - 40MG - 1996
    11. Top Strong Land, Gooderstone - 20MG - 1996
    12. Reaches Farm, Northwold - 25MG - 1997
    13. Spring Lodge Farm, Methwold - 25MG - 1997
    14. Warren Lodge Farm, Methwold - 15MG - 1997
    15. Magpie Farm, West Bilney - 20MG - 1997
    16. Manor Farm, West Bilney - 20MG - 1997
    17. Hall Farm, Little Bently- 30MG - 1997
    18. Hill Farm, Tuddenham - 20MG - 1998
    19. Folly Barn, Shingham - 15MG - 1999
    20. Manor Farm, Wells-Next-The-Sea - 50MG - 2000
    21. Highmoor Drove, Foulden - 70MG - 2001
    22. Grange Farm, Feltwell - 23.4MG - 2006
    23. Wormstalks, Wighton - 25MG - 2005
    24. Elmerdale Farm, Oulton - 35MG - 2008
    25. Piggeries Field, Ickburgh - 46MG - 2011
    26. Hullgate Field, Swaffham - 83MG - 2012

    Click a reservoir above for more info

    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG - 1995
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Warren Gun Breck, Gooderstone - 73MG - 1995
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Battles East, Marham - 20MG - 1995
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Swaffham Road, Ickburgh - 15MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Hangar End, Marham - 10MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG 14 Acre Field, Swaffham - 40MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Manor Farm, Middleton - 20MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Golder Hill, Roydon - 30MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG White Hall Farm, Salter's Lode - 12MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Stoney Hills, Heacham - 40MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Top Strong Land, Gooderstone - 20MG - 1996
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Reaches Farm, Northwold - 25MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Spring Lodge Farm, Methwold - 25MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Warren Lodge Farm, Methwold - 15MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Magpie Farm, West Bilney - 20MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Manor Farm, West Bilney - 20MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Hall Farm, Little Bently- 30MG - 1997
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Hill Farm, Tuddenham - 20MG - 1998
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Folly Barn, Shingham - 15MG - 1999
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Manor Farm, Wells-Next-The-Sea - 50MG - 2000
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Highmoor Drove, Foulden - 70MG - 2001
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Grange Farm, Feltwell - 23.4MG - 2006
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Wormstalks, Wighton - 25MG - 2005
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Elmerdale Farm, Oulton - 35MG - 2008
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Piggeries Field, Ickburgh - 46MG - 2011
    • Cley Break North, Gooderstone - 20MG Hullgate Field, Swaffham - 83MG - 2012

  • Contact Us

    Address

    King's Lynn

    3 Portland Street,
    King's Lynn,
    Norfolk,
    PE30 1PB

    Dereham

    Greens Road,
    East Dereham,
    Norfolk,
    NR20 3TG

    Telephone

    King's Lynn

    Tel: 01553 766220

    Fax: 01553 766033

    Dereham

    Tel: 01362 691333

    E-mail

    info@c-b-f.co.uk

    Enquiry Form

    For more information about Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd, click here For more information about Calvert Brain & Fraulo Architectural Ltd, click here Designed by Mousetrap
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