A £150MILLION project to increase the size of Abberton reservoir by 58 per cent has been completed.

The scheme by Essex and Suffolk Water started in 2010 and will provide an additional 64 million litres of water per day for the Essex supply area – enough to supply more than 400,000 people.

The project, which took nearly two decades of investigation, planning and consultation, has seen the main dam in the reservoir raised, along with the B1026 road causeway, by three metres.

A 16km pipeline was also installed from the River Stour in Wormingford.

The reservoir now has a capacity of 15 billion litres.

Liz Scott, of Essex and Suffolk Water, said: “We are currently filling the enlarged reservoir up to its new top water level - pumping water in from the River Stour. We expect it to reach full for the first time in April or May this year.

“Its completion is great news for our customers – it was a huge construction project spanning three counties and has been completed on time and on budget, and it secures drinking supplies for 1.5million people in our Essex supply area for many years, ensuring we are prepared for the future.“

An official opening celebration is due to take place later this year.

*A video showing the completed scheme can be viewed at www.gazette-news.co.uk