| Derwent Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| Location | County Durham / Northumberland |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | River Derwent |
| Primary outflows | River Derwent |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Derwent Reservoir is a reservoir on the River Derwent, on the border between County Durham and Northumberland, in England. It is west of Consett.
The reservoir is a key part of the water supply network in north east England (which is owned and managed by Northumbrian Water) as it is the principal water source for the Tyne and Wear metropolitan area.
The flow of the River Derwent can be supplemented, when necessary, by water transferred from the much larger Kielder Water in Northumberland. However this cannot top up the reservoir itself.
Sediment within the reservoir has been found to contain elevated levels of zinc, lead and cadmium. These have drained into the reservoir from areas of previous mining activity around Blanchland. Subsequently, populations of macroscopic plants in the reservoir are relatively low.[1]
Derwent Reservoir also hosts a sailing club, which holds many events throughout the year, including windsurfing, sailing, running and triathlons.
The reservoir also has hydro electric plant installed, with a rating of 97 kilowatts.[2]
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