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BW Water Watch - August report

Overall, reservoir holding for the BW network is satisfactory, considering the exceptionally dry start to 2010 (Met Office statistics indicate that January-June 2010 is the driest since 1929) and the canal demands experienced so far during the boating season.

 

There are a number of reservoirs (or reservoir groups) where the current holding is the lowest on record (for a dataset covering 1998-present). The Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN), the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Grand Union North and Huddersfield Narrow Canal all fall into this category.

 

For the BCN this is due to the drawdown of Chasewater Reservoir for engineering works.

 

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal reservoirs have been utilised significantly this year to meet canal demands, and a 60 mile section of the canal was closed to navigation on 2 August, until reservoir holdings recover sufficiently to allow reopening.

 

The Grand Union North (Saddington Reservoir) has been used significantly this season, but the canal is supported by water resources from the adjacent Oxford & Grand Union system.

 

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal reservoir group holding is the lowest on record due to the exceptionally dry year to date, which has led to very little inflow entering these reservoirs.

 

Although both the Staffs & Worcs, Shropshire Union reservoir group and the Oxford & Grand Union reservoir groups are showing their lowest holdings since 1998, there are no significant concerns in terms of water resources reliability at present (as these canals have other water resources available to support canal demands).

 

For more details on any restrictions to navigation, please log on to http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/boating/stoppages and sign-up for email alerts of stoppages and restrictions.