Civil Engineering
for Water & Infrastructure
Practical civil engineering designed for delivery, so water-sector assets are coordinated, buildable and robust from concept through to handover.
planning, design and delivery
We provide civil engineering services that support the planning, design and delivery of treatment, pumping, storage and network infrastructure. Our work helps clients develop assets that respond to operational needs, physical constraints and construction realities while meeting programme, quality and regulatory expectations.
Each service area below is delivered as part of one integrated civil engineering offering. Working alongside process, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical and environmental teams, we create coordinated designs that reduce clashes, improve buildability and support safe, efficient delivery across AMP8 and wider water-sector investment programmes.
Civil Engineering Offering
Site Development, Layout & General Arrangement Design
We develop site layouts and general arrangements that bring together process, civil, mechanical and electrical requirements into a practical, coordinated whole. This includes equipment zones, access requirements, structures, drainage routes, maintenance clearances and construction considerations, ensuring the civil design supports the way the asset will actually be built, operated and maintained.
A well-considered layout reduces rework, improves coordination across disciplines and creates a stronger basis for efficient design development through later project stages.
Key capabilities:
- Site layouts and civil general arrangements
- Coordination of access, levels, drainage and asset interfaces
- Spatial planning for operation, maintenance and construction
Drainage Design, Surface Water & SuDS
We design site drainage systems that manage surface water effectively and integrate with the wider civil and operational requirements of the project. Our work considers runoff, exceedance, attenuation, levels, outfalls and the role of sustainable drainage where appropriate to the site and asset type.
Good drainage design protects infrastructure, reduces flood and ponding risk and supports long-term operational performance across both new and upgraded facilities.
Key capabilities:
- Surface water drainage design and network coordination
- Attenuation, outfall and overland flow considerations
- SuDS appraisal and drainage integration for water sites
Below-Ground Structures & Reinforced Concrete Design Support
We provide civil engineering input into the design and coordination of below-ground structures and reinforced concrete assets across water and wastewater projects. This includes chambers, tanks, slabs, channels, plinths and ancillary structures, with close attention to loading, durability, watertightness, access and constructability.
Early coordination of structural and civil requirements helps reduce design conflicts, supports more efficient detailing and improves confidence in construction-stage delivery.
Key capabilities:
- Below-ground structure and reinforced concrete coordination
- Civil input to tanks, chambers, slabs and process structures
- Durability, access and constructability considerations
Buried Pipelines, Utilities & Service Corridors
We design and coordinate buried infrastructure that supports treatment works, pumping stations and wider site development. This includes utility corridors, process pipelines, drainage runs, crossings and the management of congested below-ground interfaces so that routes are practical, maintainable and buildable.
Effective buried-services coordination reduces clashes, supports safer construction and helps avoid late-stage changes on busy operational or constrained sites.
Key capabilities:
- Buried pipeline and utility route coordination
- Trench, crossing and service corridor planning
- Interface management with process and M&E design
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Earthworks, Levels & External Works
We develop levels strategies and earthworks approaches that respond to site topography, operational needs and construction constraints. This includes cut and fill considerations, finished levels, platform development, hardstanding, pavement interfaces and the broader shaping of the site to support both drainage and access.
Addressing levels and external works early helps create more efficient layouts, reduces avoidable earthworks and supports smoother delivery on site.
Key capabilities:
- Site levels strategies and finished levels design
- Earthworks coordination and external works planning
- Hardstanding, pavements and operational access areas
Highways, Access & Internal Road Design
We support the planning and design of access arrangements and internal circulation routes for operational sites, treatment works and infrastructure compounds. Our civil engineering input considers vehicle movements, maintenance access, delivery routes, emergency access and the practical requirements of live water-industry environments.
Clear and well-designed access arrangements improve safety, support operations and reduce logistical constraints during both construction and long-term use.
Key capabilities:
- Site access and internal road layout design
- Vehicle tracking and operational access considerations
- Construction and maintenance access coordination
Temporary Works, Construction Interfaces & Buildability
We provide civil engineering input that supports buildability and delivery planning, helping teams understand how permanent works interact with temporary conditions, phasing and construction methods. This includes sequencing reviews, access constraints, excavation interfaces and practical design adjustments that reduce delivery risk.
Buildable design is critical in the water industry, where live assets, limited space and operational continuity often shape what can be delivered and when.
Key capabilities:
- Buildability reviews and construction-stage considerations
- Civil interfaces with phasing and temporary conditions
- Practical design support for constrained operational sites
Asset Upgrades, Refurbishment & Live Site Modifications
Many water-sector projects involve extending, adapting or replacing infrastructure on existing operational sites. We provide civil engineering support for these live-site environments, helping clients develop solutions that work around existing structures, buried assets, access limitations and continuity-of-service requirements.
Experience in refurbishment and upgrade work helps reduce disruption, improve coordination and support safer delivery where site conditions are already complex.
Key capabilities:
- Civil design for upgrades and brownfield water sites
- Modifications around existing structures and buried assets
- Delivery planning for operational and constrained environments
Flood Resilience, Containment & Operational Risk Reduction
We support civil solutions that improve resilience and operational reliability, particularly where water, wastewater and sludge infrastructure must remain robust under demanding site and weather conditions. This can include containment-related design thinking, external level strategies, drainage resilience and measures that protect critical assets from operational disruption.
A resilience-led approach helps clients make better decisions about asset performance, maintenance and long-term risk across essential infrastructure.
Key capabilities:
- Civil input to flood resilience and site protection
- Containment and operational risk reduction measures
- Coordination of resilience requirements into site design
Construction Support & Technical Input During Delivery
Civil engineering decisions often continue into the delivery phase, particularly when unforeseen site conditions or interface issues arise. We provide responsive support during construction, helping teams review queries, adapt details where needed and maintain continuity between the design intent and what is delivered on site.
Ongoing support during delivery helps protect programme, reduce ambiguity and keep civil engineering decisions documented and aligned with the wider project objectives.
Key capabilities:
- Technical support during construction and installation
- Review of site queries, changes and interface issues
- Ongoing coordination between design and delivery teams
Contact us
Our civil input is developed in step with process, mechanical, electrical, environmental and ground requirements.
