Community-Driven Reservoir Overhaul Wins Top Engineering Award

An innovative approach to reservoir management has garnered significant recognition, as the Gooseum Rhyne Reservoir project near Bristol was awarded the ICE South West Collaboration Award 2025. This accolade from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) highlights the project’s commitment to incorporating community feedback into its planning and execution.

Originally constructed in 1982 to alleviate flooding in the low-lying area of Congresbury, the reservoir was designed to hold at least 25,000 cubic meters of water—equivalent to ten Olympic swimming pools. Due to its substantial storage capacity, it was classified as a ‘large, raised reservoir’ under the Reservoirs Act 1975. This classification necessitated rigorous maintenance standards, prompting recent improvement projects that could impact local properties and public amenities.

During the planning process, community members voiced their concerns regarding potential disruptions to nearby facilities, including a youth club, a basketball court, and memorial trees at Millennium Green. Responding to this feedback, Catherine Farrugia, the Environment Agency’s Catchment Engineer, prioritised stakeholder engagement. Her efforts established strong ties with local residents and ensured their input was integral to the project’s direction.

Through a series of public consultations and drop-in events, the project team gathered community priorities and collaboratively sought solutions. This engagement led to a significant innovation: the legal ‘deregulation’ of the reservoir. By reducing its storage capacity while still fulfilling its flood defence role, the team aligned engineering requirements with community values. This approach preserved the Millennium Green as a public space, enhancing accessibility while maintaining its natural features.

Moreover, the innovative strategy resulted in a cost saving of approximately £8 million and reduced carbon emissions from the project by 98%. Research from the Environment Agency indicated that lowering the reservoir’s water retention would not adversely affect Congresbury, while alleviating pressure on the reservoir’s embankments.

The construction phase concluded in summer 2024, and the reservoir was officially deregulated in January 2025. The judges at ICE commended the project team for their dedication to community engagement and their adaptability in response to local feedback. They noted this initiative as an exemplary model of how collaboration can lead to innovative solutions for complex engineering challenges.

Catherine Farrugia remarked, “This engagement exemplifies how engineering, when approached thoughtfully, can respect a community’s sense of place while achieving essential objectives. The social value this project has created demonstrates the possibilities when we actively listen to the communities we serve.”

Meloney Celliers, Gooseum Rhyne Reservoir Project Manager at the Environment Agency, added, “This project illustrates how creative thinking and genuine collaboration can yield outstanding results for both communities and the environment. By challenging conventional approaches and working closely with residents, we’ve achieved a solution that surpasses expectations while safeguarding community interests.”

Dominic Bradley, Project Director at Atkins Réalis, expressed satisfaction with the project’s recognition, stating, “We are delighted that this innovative initiative has received the recognition it deserves through the ICE South West Collaboration Award 2025, providing the community with a lasting legacy.”

Philip Ramsay, Operations Director at Kier, highlighted the effectiveness of partnership and collaboration in achieving beneficial outcomes: “The Gooseum Rhyne project showcases the power of teamwork between organizations and the community. Our ability to adapt and innovate, with community needs at the forefront, resulted in an outcome that benefits all parties involved. We take pride in our role in such a transformative project.”

The success of the Gooseum Rhyne Reservoir project not only reflects the value of community engagement in engineering but also serves as a model for future initiatives aiming to balance infrastructure needs with local priorities.