Drought uncovers lost structures of famous Peak District reservoir
The water company said its reservoirs are now less than a third full after the hottest summer on record
Dramatically low reservoir levels across the UK are revealing long-lost structures from landscapes submerged decades ago, as water companies confirm a continuing decline in water reserves.
Yorkshire Water announced on Tuesday that its reservoirs are currently at a mere 32.6 per cent capacity.
The utility firm has stated that recent rainfall has been insufficient to make any material difference to water levels or to allow for the lifting of the current hosepipe ban.
One striking example can be seen at Broomhead Reservoir, north of Sheffield, where the receding waters have uncovered the remains of a bridge inundated when the reservoir was constructed in the 1920s.
The stone arch, believed to be part of Broomhead Bridge (also known as Cooper Carr Bridge), once spanned Ewden Beck near a corn mill, which was also lost to the rising waters.
The bridge is now surrounded by vast expanses of mud, punctuated by various other structures, including gate posts and crumbled dry-stone walls.
There is also a collection of rusted metal poles that have baffled dog-walkers exploring the unusual, moon-like landscape.
Broomhead is one of a number of reservoirs which have seen unusually low water level this summer as Yorkshire experienced the driest spring in 132 years and the hottest summer on record.
Work on this reservoir was begun in 1913 but not completed until 1929 after interruptions due to the First World War and engineering problems.
It was built at the same time as More Hall Reservoir, further down the Ewden Valley, which is also exceptionally low this summer.
Another bridge in the valley, which would have been submerged under More Hall Reservoir, was dismantled and rebuilt in Glen Howe Park, close to the nearby village of Wharncliffe Side.
Yorkshire Water’s director of water services Dave Kaye said: “Yorkshire is in drought following an extremely dry spring and the hottest summer on record.
“While the rain, which was heavy in some areas but short-lived, has been welcome, the majority has been taken up by the extremely dry ground, as well as plants and trees.”
Mr Kaye added: “The rain has helped river levels in some areas, which will allow us to abstract from watercourses to take the strain off our reservoirs.
“This, combined with drought orders and permits that have been granted on the Ouse and Wharfe, as well as others we have applied for in the south and north-west of the region, will help to reduce the burden on reservoirs and enable reservoirs to recover quicker in the autumn and winter.
“Customers adhering to the restrictions has also helped reduce domestic water usage by 10% and our smart meter rollout in Sheffield is helping to identify leaks on customers’ properties, helping them to save water and money on their bills.”