The Tadcaster Storm Tank project was part of Yorkshire Water’s UIMP6 Storm Water Volume Obligation Scheme, one of 13 new storm tanks designed to improve stormwater management. This design-and-build project involved the construction of a pre-cast concrete tank adjacent to an existing storm tank, connected via gravity-fed ductile iron pipework.
Project Scope
Our scope of works included:
- Excavation of 1,500m³ of material to prepare the tank base
- Installation of a ground support system
- Casting of 25m x 14m concrete foundations
- Installation of a 25m x 14m x 2.5m deep pre-cast concrete tank (12 sections)
- Installation of two 350mm diameter connections to the existing storm tank
- Installation of new bollards for protection
- Water testing and commissioning of the tank
- Resurfacing 100m² of site access road
Design & Construction
Significant site constraints were overcome without disrupting ongoing operations. Eighty-four interlocking 6m-long sheet piles were installed using an excavator-mounted attachment to support deep excavation. A 200mm-thick reinforced landing slab was cast in situ to support the pre-cast wall sections, with internal benching directing flows into the new connections.
Pre-cast sections were carefully lifted into place by crane in a planned sequence suitable for the confined working area. The tank connected to the existing system via two 350mm gravity-fed ductile iron pipes. Hydrostatic testing, carried out in line with CESWI Section 7.14, confirmed the tank’s water tightness after a seven-day monitored soak.
Following testing, the site was backfilled and landscaped, the access road resurfaced, and bollards installed to protect the tank from vehicle impact.
Challenges Overcome
Logistics were carefully coordinated to manage deliveries and plant movements within a confined site. Temporary measures, including sandbags, covers, and flow diversions, protected non-contained drainage and maintained environmental compliance throughout construction.
Added Value
The project met all regulatory deadlines and stayed on programme without delays. Sustainability was prioritised through the use of an ECO10 hybrid welfare unit with solar panels, eliminating the need for a generator, reducing carbon emissions and noise, and supporting the scheme’s environmental objectives.
