Newark Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newark Reservoir |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Newark Reservoir
Location in Delaware
Newark Reservoir
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | New Castle County, Delaware |
| Coordinates | 39°41′44″N 75°44′38″W / 39.69556°N 75.74389°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | White Clay Creek |
| Primary outflows | White Clay Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Max. depth | 56 feet (17 m) |
| Water volume | 317 million U.S. gallons (1.20×109 L) |
| Shore length1 | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Newark Reservoir is a large reservoir located in Newark, Delaware. It's like a giant storage tank that holds water for the city! This important spot was finished in 2006. It helps make sure people in Newark have enough water to drink and use every day.
About the Newark Reservoir
The Newark Reservoir is found just north of downtown Newark. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 317 million gallons! This water is pumped into the reservoir from White Clay Creek. The reservoir can supply the city with water for up to 100 days.
Why Was It Built?
The idea for the reservoir came after a big dry spell in 1999. This drought showed that Newark needed a backup water supply. Construction started on May 14, 2002, and the reservoir was ready to be filled by November 2005. The whole project cost about $20 million. It was the first new reservoir built in Delaware since the Hoopes Reservoir in Wilmington, which was completed way back in 1932. The new facility was officially opened on May 24, 2006.
Fun Things to Do
The area around the reservoir is a popular place for people to visit. There are about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) of paved walking trails. A special trail, about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long, goes all the way around the reservoir itself. At the north end, you can also find access to the nearby William M. Redd, Jr. Park.
You usually can't swim or do other water activities in the reservoir. However, there are special events where people can get in the water. For example, an annual triathlon sometimes lets competitors swim there. In 2017, the swimming part of the triathlon was canceled. This was because of a natural event called a cyanobacterial bloom, which is when tiny plant-like organisms grow a lot in the water.
