Diverting Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Diverting Reservoir (also known as Croton Falls Diverting) is a small reservoir
that is located in the township of Southeast, New York
, in Putnam County
. The reservoir is immediately south of the village of Brewster, New York
, and about 35 miles (56.3 km) north of New York City
, which the reservoir eventually gives water to. It was constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, and was formed by impounding the East Branch of the Croton River
, which is a tributary of the Croton River
, which in turn is a tributary of the Hudson River
.
The resulting reservoir, which was finally placed into service in 1911, holds a mere 900 million USgals (3,406,870.8 m³) of water at full capacity, making it the smallest reservoir in New York City's water supply that is not within the city itself. It also has a drainage basin that takes up only 8 square miles (20.7 km²) of the Croton Watershed, which it is in. This basin includes the lakes, streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that flow into the reservoir. This includes the beginning portion of the East Branch of the Croton River, which is not impounded.
The Diverting Reservoir is connected to the nearby Croton Falls Reservoir
via a channel and dividing weir. Water usually passes freely between these two reservoirs. The water in Diverting Reservoir flows into the continuation of the East Branch of the Croton River, and then into the Muscoot Reservoir
, the collecting point for the water from most of the reservoirs in the Croton Watershed. It continues into the New Croton Reservoir
, the final collecting point, and then continues into the New Croton Aqueduct
. It flows into The Bronx
, and through the Jerome Park Reservoir
, before flowing through Manhattan
, where it meets up with the Catskill Aqueduct
, then through Brooklyn
and Staten Island
, where it comes to a halt.
In January 2007, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection began a $74 million project of improvements to the Croton Falls Reservoir and the Diverting Reservoir. (See Journal-News article dated Feb. 28, 2007) The upgrading and rehabilitation is part of the city's effort to comply with state and federal dam safety regulations. The work at the Diverting Reservoir includes new valves and pipes, along with redoing the spillway and some of the concrete surfaces on the 55 feet (16.8 m)-high dam. The connecting channel between the two reservoirs will be emptied, inspected and dredged. Construction at both sites is expected to continue until Jan. 31, 2010.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
that is located in the township of Southeast, New York
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
, in Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
. The reservoir is immediately south of the village of Brewster, New York
Brewster, New York
Brewster is a village within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. Its population was 2,162 at the 2000 census. The village is the most densely populated portion of the town...
, and about 35 miles (56.3 km) north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which the reservoir eventually gives water to. It was constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, and was formed by impounding the East Branch of the Croton River
East Branch Croton River
The East Branch Croton River is a river in southern New York state.It rises in the town of Pawling in Dutchess County, flowing west and then south through the village of Pawling. It crosses into Putnam County, flowing through the Great Swamp in the town of Patterson...
, which is a tributary of the Croton River
Croton River
The Croton River is a river in southern New York that begins where the East and West Branches of the Croton River meet a little way downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir...
, which in turn is a tributary of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
The resulting reservoir, which was finally placed into service in 1911, holds a mere 900 million USgals (3,406,870.8 m³) of water at full capacity, making it the smallest reservoir in New York City's water supply that is not within the city itself. It also has a drainage basin that takes up only 8 square miles (20.7 km²) of the Croton Watershed, which it is in. This basin includes the lakes, streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that flow into the reservoir. This includes the beginning portion of the East Branch of the Croton River, which is not impounded.
The Diverting Reservoir is connected to the nearby Croton Falls Reservoir
Croton Falls Reservoir
The Croton Falls Reservoir is a small reservoir that is located in Putnam County, New York in the Croton Watershed. It is within the townships of Carmel, New York, and Southeast, New York, making it over 30 miles north of New York City, which the reservoir supplies water to...
via a channel and dividing weir. Water usually passes freely between these two reservoirs. The water in Diverting Reservoir flows into the continuation of the East Branch of the Croton River, and then into the Muscoot Reservoir
Muscoot Reservoir
The Muscoot Reservoir is a reservoir in northern Westchester County, New York. It is located directly north of the village of Katonah, New York, and is over 25 miles north of New York City, which the reservoir eventually supplies with tapwater...
, the collecting point for the water from most of the reservoirs in the Croton Watershed. It continues into the New Croton Reservoir
New Croton Reservoir
The New Croton reservoir is a narrow reservoir in Westchester County, New York, lying approximately north of New York City, for which the reservoir supplies water. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed....
, the final collecting point, and then continues into the New Croton Aqueduct
New Croton Aqueduct
The New Croton aqueduct, built roughly parallel to the Old Croton aqueduct was constructed to provide a large steady water supply for New York City. The aqueduct opened on July 15, 1890...
. It flows into The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, and through the Jerome Park Reservoir
Jerome Park Reservoir
The Jerome Park Reservoir is located in Jerome Park, a neighborhood in the North Bronx, New York City. It was built in 1906 to serve the Croton Aqueduct as part of the New York City water supply system....
, before flowing through Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, where it meets up with the Catskill Aqueduct
Catskill Aqueduct
The Catskill Aqueduct, part of the New York City water supply system, brings water from the Catskill Mountains to Yonkers where it connects to other parts of the system.-History:Construction commenced in 1907...
, then through Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, where it comes to a halt.
In January 2007, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection began a $74 million project of improvements to the Croton Falls Reservoir and the Diverting Reservoir. (See Journal-News article dated Feb. 28, 2007) The upgrading and rehabilitation is part of the city's effort to comply with state and federal dam safety regulations. The work at the Diverting Reservoir includes new valves and pipes, along with redoing the spillway and some of the concrete surfaces on the 55 feet (16.8 m)-high dam. The connecting channel between the two reservoirs will be emptied, inspected and dredged. Construction at both sites is expected to continue until Jan. 31, 2010.