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The biggest news at the moment has to be
the draining of Chasewater reservoir.
Chasewater covers an area of about three
square kilometres, and holds something like four billion
gallons of water. It is the primary water supply (or
“feeder”) for the entire Midland canal network.
This once in a lifetime event has been
caused by weakening of the dam wall, and the need to drain
the water to carry out repair work.
Such drastic action has been taken for
very good reason.
The original earth built dam of 1797
failed in June 1799, causing a massive amount of flooding
and damage as far away as Shenstone and Tamworth.
The present East dam (there is a smaller
one at the West end) was built in 1800, much wider than the
original and with limestone walls in its structure. But if
it did fail, the potential for damage and loss of life could
be high. There has been a lot of development down steam of
the dam since 1799.
Work was due to start in May 2010, and it
could be several years before the reservoir refills to
capacity.
In the meantime British Waterways have put
plans in place to safeguard water supplies to the 198 miles
of canal fed by Chasewater. This includes an extensive spot
dredging programme on the Wyrley and Essington Canal. As
well as being needed to improve navigation, this will help
water flow from the secondary source, Bradley pumps. At
Bradley yard, British Waterways have electric pumps drawing
water from an old mine shaft. The Bradley arm is also to be
dredged. A water conservation programme is in place and
several major events have been cancelled to save water.
On the waterscape.com website, British
Waterways seem confident of their ability to maintain canal
water levels. Judging by the amount of water still flowing
in to Chasewater from the brooks and springs of the old
“Norton Bog”, I can see why.
Those old canal engineers certainly knew a
good site for a reservoir when they saw one.
Chasewater lies to the north of Birmingham
near the village of Norton Canes.
It is easily accessible by car from the
A5, M6, and M6 Toll. |
