Counters Creek Flood Alleviation Scheme, West London
Project Summary
Soil Engineering were instructed by Optimise (Water) LLP acting on behalf of Thames Water Utilities Ltd to undertake a ground investigation for the proposed Counters Creek Flood Alleviation Scheme. Thames Water Utilities Ltd sought to develop local flood alleviation projects within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The proposed upgrade works were discrete solutions to alleviate basement flooding from approximately 1,000 properties.
The investigation was divided into 8 areas across the two London Boroughs within difficult surroundings involving parking suspensions, narrow residential streets including some with rediscovered Victorian historic foundations and also inside an operational pumping station. The risk posed by the legacy of unexploded ordnance from WWII, meant that the many of the positions required UXO clearance.
Soil Engineering mobilised to a central location at the Thames Water Tower located on the Holland Park Roundabout in Shepherds Bush, West London. Travel to the borehole locations with all associated cable percussive and rotary rigs, equipment & plant was made from this roundabout location on a daily basis. The majority of positions involved parking suspensions, and required good planning to occupy the areas and complete the works within the tight timescales.
Soil Engineering Solution
The scope of works comprised:
- 41 No. Cable percussive boreholes
- 14 No. Rotary core follow on boreholes to 60m with Ut100’s and SPT’s
- Geotechnical and environmental sampling with specialist laboratory testing
- Post fieldwork gas and groundwater monitoring and gas sampling
Soil Engineering Value
Due to the difficult logistical situation negotiating London traffic, tight parking suspension opportunities and parked cars over borehole positions, Soil Engineering managed to work in collaboration with Optimise Water LLP to coordinate traffic flow and drilling together. All drill crews were required to operate KeyLogBook to enable rapid supply of checked data as well as laboratory schedules to the client.
