Chew Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chew Reservoir |
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Location | Greater Manchester |
Coordinates | 53°31′N 1°56′W / 53.51°N 1.94°W |
Type | Reservoir |
Primary inflows | Chew Clough, Green Grain, Dry Clough, South Clough and Small Clough |
Primary outflows | Chew Brook |
Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Chew Reservoir is a large, man-made lake located in the beautiful Peak District National Park. You can find it at the top of the Chew Valley in Greater Manchester, England. This important reservoir helps provide water for people in the area.
Discover Chew Reservoir
Chew Reservoir is a special place. It's not a natural lake, but one that was built by people. It sits high up in the hills, making it a great spot for nature and outdoor activities.
What is a Reservoir?
A reservoir is like a giant bathtub built to store water. Engineers create them by building a dam across a river or valley. This stored water is then used for many things. It can be cleaned and sent to homes for drinking. Reservoirs also help control floods and can even generate electricity.
Building Chew Reservoir
The idea for Chew Reservoir started a long time ago, in 1870. A group called the Ashton Stalybridge and Dukinfield Waterworks Joint Committee began the project. Their goal was to build a huge reservoir. It was designed to hold about 200 million gallons of water.
The reservoir was finished in 1912. It was built to be a "compensation reservoir." This means it released water back into the river below. This helped make up for water taken for other uses. It also had a special plant to filter water. This meant it could be used for drinking water, especially during dry periods.
A High-Up Lake
When it was completed in 1912, Chew Reservoir was the highest reservoir in England. It sits at about 488 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level. This record stood for many years. Another reservoir, Cow Green Reservoir, took its place in 1971. Cow Green is located in the North Pennines.
Chew Reservoir is also connected to another, even larger reservoir. The Chew Brook flows from Chew Reservoir down to the Dovestone Reservoir. Dovestone is located further down the Chew Valley.