YORKSHIRE Water will next month start a £1.9million spillway improvement project at a reservoir which supplies drinking water to Otley and Ilkley.
Engineering specialists Mott MacDonald Bentley, will carryout the work on spillway improvements at Graincliffe reservoir, near Eldwick.
Construction of Graincliffe reservoir began in 1879 and it was completed in 1885 for Bradford Corporation Water Works. It stores water that is piped from Scar House reservoir (40km away) and Barden Lower reservoir (20km away) via aqueducts. When full, the reservoir holds more than enough water to fill 170 Olympic sized swimming pools. The water is treated at Graincliffe water treatment works and supplies drinking water to Bingley, Baildon, Riddlesden, Otley, Heaton, Ilkley and supports Keighley.
Graincliffe has three spillways and these overflow structures are used to control water flows into the area downstream of the reservoir. They are used when the reservoir is full, to pass floodwater safely, and in a controlled way downstream so water does not overtop the dam.
Mark Broady, Yorkshire Water project manager said: “The work will ensure that the spillways continue to carry out their important role of protecting the reservoir embankment from flood erosion by safely diverting the excess water flows away from the site.
“We'd like to thank local residents for their patience throughout this work and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
This engineering project will take until the end of October 2017 to complete. For further information contact den.tansey@yorkshirewater.co.uk or 01274 692653.
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