The Ministry of Public Works and the Environment has put out a call for quotations for repairs to an ageing reservoir at Prospect in Devonshire.

A recent request for quotations, published on the government procurement website this month, urged experienced contractors to submit quotes to construct a concrete liner to the walls and floors of Reservoir 1 on Fort Hill Road.

The reservoir, which is 225ft long, 33ft wide and 26ft deep, has been out of use for more than a year as a result of a “major leak” that left it unable to hold a sustainable water level.

The RFQ said: “This work involves the demolition of existing divide walls followed by the construction of reinforced concrete floor slabs and walls.

“The work also includes various other works including two new access stairs and final concrete coating. The purpose of this work is to create a watertight storage reservoir.”

Submissions must be received by 3pm on September 23.

A ministry spokesman said in February 2025 that engineers had identified a “major leak” in the Prospect reservoirs, which had “deteriorated structurally” since they were built in the 1950s.

“The reservoirs are unable to hold a sustainable water volume, severely limiting distribution capacity,” the spokesman said.

In July 2025, the Government sought a contractor to carry out a structural assessment of the reservoir, which was completed by January this year.

The report found “localised voids” in two of the four sections of the reservoir, along with large cracks, believed to be caused by the structure settling, in another section.

Precast beams and slabs were found to be in good condition — but two areas of spalled concrete and corroded reinforcing steel were seen on an older, reinforcing steel beam, and multiple leaks through the roof slabs were noted.

The report recommended the filling of the localised voids, new reservoir floors designed to span over small voids, and maintenance of the roof slabs to prevent water ingress and mitigate potential deterioration of the steel beams.