Arnfield Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Arnfield Reservoir is a man-made lake
in Longdendale
in north Derbyshire
. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow
to the urban areas of Greater Manchester
. Unlike the other reservoirs in the chain, Arnfield and Hollingworth Reservoir
are not in the Etherow valley but lie in the valley of tributary brooks to the north and above. From here the water is extracted to pass through the Mottram Tunnel
to Godley.
The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1847 gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead
, Arnfield
and Hollingworth Reservoir
s and an aqueduct to convey waters to a service reservoir at Godley. The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1848 allowed the construction of Torside
and Rhodeswood Reservoir
, and an aqueduct to convey the water to the Arnfield reservoir.
The earthen embankment is 17m high and the five sections total 953 m in length. It was constructed of local clay; a masonry overflow weir protects the reservoir from overtopping. Beneath it lay the trapezoidal Longdendale aqueduct that followed the contour to take water from the reservoirs to the Godley reservoir. Until the 1960s, water was treated by passing it through straining frames at Godley.
In the 1960s, a more sophisticated system of treatment was employed. Treatment plants were built at Arnfield and Godley. At Arnfield, lime, ferric sulphate and polyelectrolite are added to the water in mixing chambers. This 'floc' binds together the impurities, which sink and are removed in sedimentation tanks. At Godley lime is added to remove manganese
, and the water is filtered and chlorinated and fed into the distribution network.
In the 1960s, part of the Longdendale aqueduct was replaced with 1200mm diameter pipes. In 1990 the Hollingworth Reservoir was decommissioned and levelled and waters from the Ogden Brook fed into Arnfield. In 2004, two sections of the embankment were strengthened.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Longdendale
Longdendale
Longdendale is a valley in the north of England, north of Glossop and south east of Holmfirth. The name means "long wooded valley".- Geography :...
in north Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow
River Etherow
The River Etherow is a river in northern England, and a tributary of the River Goyt. Although now passing through South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester, it historically formed the ancient county boundary between Cheshire and Derbyshire. The upper valley is known as Longdendale...
to the urban areas of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. Unlike the other reservoirs in the chain, Arnfield and Hollingworth Reservoir
Hollingworth Reservoir
Hollingworth Reservoir is a former reservoir near Hollingworth, north Derbyshire. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale Chain, but was abandoned in 1987 and now forms part of the Swallows Wood nature reserve.- See also :...
are not in the Etherow valley but lie in the valley of tributary brooks to the north and above. From here the water is extracted to pass through the Mottram Tunnel
Mottram Tunnel
The Mottram Tunnel is a tunnel carrying drinking water by gravity from Arnfield Reservoir, Tintwistle, Derbyshire in the valley of the River Etherow, to Godley, Greater Manchester in the valley of the River Tame. It was essential to the construction of the Longdendale Chain of reservoirs...
to Godley.
The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1847 gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead
Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead reservoir is a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
, Arnfield
Arnfield Reservoir
Arnfield Reservoir is a man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester. Unlike the other reservoirs in the chain, Arnfield and Hollingworth Reservoir are...
and Hollingworth Reservoir
Hollingworth Reservoir
Hollingworth Reservoir is a former reservoir near Hollingworth, north Derbyshire. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale Chain, but was abandoned in 1987 and now forms part of the Swallows Wood nature reserve.- See also :...
s and an aqueduct to convey waters to a service reservoir at Godley. The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1848 allowed the construction of Torside
Torside Reservoir
Torside Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between April 1849 and July 1864 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester.The Manchester...
and Rhodeswood Reservoir
Rhodeswood Reservoir
Rhodeswood Reservoir is a man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1849 and June 1855 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
, and an aqueduct to convey the water to the Arnfield reservoir.
The earthen embankment is 17m high and the five sections total 953 m in length. It was constructed of local clay; a masonry overflow weir protects the reservoir from overtopping. Beneath it lay the trapezoidal Longdendale aqueduct that followed the contour to take water from the reservoirs to the Godley reservoir. Until the 1960s, water was treated by passing it through straining frames at Godley.
In the 1960s, a more sophisticated system of treatment was employed. Treatment plants were built at Arnfield and Godley. At Arnfield, lime, ferric sulphate and polyelectrolite are added to the water in mixing chambers. This 'floc' binds together the impurities, which sink and are removed in sedimentation tanks. At Godley lime is added to remove manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
, and the water is filtered and chlorinated and fed into the distribution network.
In the 1960s, part of the Longdendale aqueduct was replaced with 1200mm diameter pipes. In 1990 the Hollingworth Reservoir was decommissioned and levelled and waters from the Ogden Brook fed into Arnfield. In 2004, two sections of the embankment were strengthened.
See also
- Hollingworth ReservoirHollingworth ReservoirHollingworth Reservoir is a former reservoir near Hollingworth, north Derbyshire. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale Chain, but was abandoned in 1987 and now forms part of the Swallows Wood nature reserve.- See also :...
- List of reservoirs and dams in the United Kingdom