Silvan Reservoir

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Silvan Reservoir
Location Silvan, Victoria
Coordinates 37°50′S 145°25′ECoordinates: 37°50′S 145°25′E
Lake type reservoir
Catchment area 9 km²
Basin countries Australia
Surface area 3.33 km²
Silvan Reservoir
Silvan Dam
Silvan Reservoir from Kalorama
Creates Silvan Reservoir
Locale Silvan, Victoria
Maintained by Melbourne Water
Length 644 metres
Height 43 metres
Width (at base) 219 metres
Construction began 1926
Opening date 7 July, 1931
Reservoir information
Capacity 40,000 megalitres
Catchment area 9 km²
(off stream storage)
Surface area 3.33 km²

The Silvan Reservoir is located in Silvan about 30 km East of Melbourne, Victoria.

The reservoir's history dates back to 1914 when a severe drought forced Melbournians to search for a new water supply to handle their ever increasing needs. Construction took place between the years of 1926 and 1931. When it was finally completed it was 644 m long, 219 m wide, and 43 m deep.

Silvan Reservoir was officially opened on 7 July, 1931. In 1983 extra work was needed, as the wall had started to show cracks and it was at this time that the picnic ground was added to the Silvan Reservoir Park.

Silvan is an off-stream storage reservoir, meaning that most of the water is sourced from other reservoirs as the actual catchment (9 km²) for Silvan is small. Water for Silvan is sourced from reservoirs such as Upper Yarra, O'Shannassy and Thomson (indirectly; via Upper Yarra). In turn, Silvan directly supplies many of Melbourne's eastern suburbs as well as other off-stream storage reservoirs including Cardinia and Greenvale.

Silvan Reservoir has a capacity of 40,000 megalitres.

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