Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir

Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir

Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir
Location Surrey
Coordinates 51°23′27″N 0°23′32″W / 51.39083°N 0.39222°W / 51.39083; -0.39222Coordinates: 51°23′27″N 0°23′32″W / 51.39083°N 0.39222°W / 51.39083; -0.39222
Type reservoir
Basin countries United Kingdom
Surface area 127.9 ha (316 acres)
Average depth 15.3 m (50 ft)
Max. depth 17.8 m (58 ft)
Water volume 19.5 Gl (4.3×10^9 imp gal)

The Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir lies to the south of the River Thames and to the west of the Island Barn Reservoir. To the north are the reservoirs of Bessborough and Knight. The A3050 runs to the north of the reservoir and it is situated in Walton on Thames. It is managed by Thames Water.

The reservoir was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1935, but construction was halted on the outbreak of World War II. Work did not begin again until 1957 and, after the works were completed by W. & C. French, it was commissioned in 1962.[1] The reservoir covers 317 acres (1.28 km2), has a mean depth of 15.3 m, a maximum depth of 17.8 m and holds 4,300 million gallons (20,000 million litres).[2]

Bewick's swans have been spotted on this reservoir.[3]

In March 2016[4] Thames Water commissioned a farm of Solar Panels onto the reservoir which at the time was the worlds largest floating solar farm. More than 23,000 panels[4] float on the reservoir generating 6.3mw[5] of power (enough to power approximately 1,800 homes). The Solar Farm is expected to offset Thames Water's energy expenses used to power their nearby water treatment and pumping stations. The Solar Farm covers 1/10th of the reservoirs surface[6].

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir". Pastscape. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. ↑ A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of the Borough of Elmbridge
  3. ↑ Thames Water official website - Birdwatching
  4. 1 2 Harvey, Fiona (2016-02-29). "World's biggest floating solar farm powers up outside London". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  5. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth Solar Farm Renewable energy scheme / Solar". www.renewables-map.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  6. ↑ "UK engineers building Europe’s largest floating solar farm". The Engineer. Retrieved 2017-05-30.


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