A multi-million pound strategic water main running between Buckland and Outwood has been short-listed for a major industry award.

The £14 million main running for 10.5-miles between Outwood reservoir and Buckland pumping station has been shortlisted for a prestigious regional award presented by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

The Sutton and East Surrey Water project to construct the main to increase the resilience of the company's distribution network and secure water supplies for future generations, has been running for the past year.

The scale of the job caught the eye of the ICE ‘Engineering Excellence’ South East England judges.

The Sutton and East Surrey Water project team, working in partnership with contractor Clancy Docwra, overcame many technical and environmental challenges.

Laying the large 800mm (32in) diameter pipeline between Outwood reservoir and Buckland pumping station involved a route that went under two railway lines and three A roads, below an oil pipeline serving Gatwick Airport and across several rural watercourses and roads.

Trench-less auger and micro-tunnelling techniques were used. The overall project excavated a total of 140,000 tons of soil, which was either re-used or recycled, resulting in only 338 tons of waste going to landfill.

Ongoing communication with numerous stakeholders, including three local planning authorities, Network Rail, Surrey County Council, the Environment Agency and Surrey Wildlife Trust, as well as the communities near the route, was maintained throughout the project.

The pipeline, only recently completed, was constructed within budget, accident free and ahead of the 2015 programme required by the water regulator Ofwat.

Sutton and East Surrey Water projects manager Kevin Shilling, said the short-listing of the £14 million was a notable highlight in an already memorable year.

He said: “We have successfully delivered not only our largest strategic pipeline scheme while celebrating our 150th year as a company, but also one of the most diverse and challenging civil engineering projects we have ever undertaken.”

Fourteen schemes have been short-listed for the ICE’s ‘Engineering Excellence’ South East England (Thames Valley) award, highlighting crucial infrastructure work going on to help tackle the region’s triple concerns of booming population, climate change and ageing infrastructure.

ICE regional director John Laverty said: “We’ve been delighted with the quality and range of this year’s entries, which demonstrate how civil engineering has a huge impact on our lives. “Whenever we turn on a tap, get on a train, drive down the road, or walk along a canal, civil engineers have made that possible. We hope these awards go some way to reflect that.”

The Thames Valley regional winner will be announced at an awards dinner being held in Henley-on-Thames on June 27.

Sutton and East Surrey Water supplies water to more than 675,000 people in East Surrey and parts of West Sussex, west Kent and south London. Website: www.waterplc.com