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Chingford Reservoirs

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The King George V Reservoir , also known as King George's Reservoir , is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water. The storage reservoir is bordered by Sewardstone and Chingford to the east and Brimsdown and Ponders End to the west, and covers 420 acres (170 hectares), making it the largest in London. The reservoir and the nearby William Girling Reservoir are known collectively as the Chingford Reservoirs , and are owned and managed by Thames Water .

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42-889: The Chingford Reservoirs are the King George V Reservoir and the William Girling Reservoir , which form part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain in the London Boroughs of Enfield and Waltham Forest and Epping Forest in Essex . Construction of the King George V Reservoir was started in 1908 and completed in 1912. Work on the William Girling Reservoir was started in 1938, with John Mowlem & Co being

84-501: A moult refuge for a large population of wildfowl during the late summer months. A total of 85 wetland species have been recorded here in recent years. The reservoir is popular with birdwatchers , and is home to the King George Sailing Club. Access has required permits and a key are required to visit the water, which were obtained from Thames Water. Since July 2016, access arrangements have been "under review",

126-535: A puddle clay core extending down into the underlying London Clay and gravel/earth shoulders at a slope of 1 in 3. The top of the embankment is 10 m above the surrounding land. The key engineering parameters are: Located in the NW corner is the original inlet pumping station by W.B. Bryan and finished in red brick and Portland stone . Still in situ are three of the five gas-fuelled liquid-piston pumps designed by H. A. Humphrey . In 1970 these were made redundant by

168-424: A sewer force main if the sewage is transported some significant distance. The pumping station may be called a lift station if the pump merely discharges into a nearby gravity manhole. From here the cycle starts all over again until the sewage reaches its point of destination—usually a treatment plant. By this method, pumping stations are used to move waste to higher elevations. In the case of high sewage flows into

210-401: A chain off of the duckfoot and up the two guide rails to the maintenance (normally ground) level. Reinstalling the pumps simply reverses this process with the pump being remounted on the guide rails and lowered onto the duckfoot where the weight of the pump reseals it. As the motors are sealed and weather is not a concern, no above ground structures are required, excepting a small kiosk to contain

252-598: A concept pioneered during the Victorian era in places like The Fens in the UK. The introduction of "package pumping stations" has modernized drainage systems, allowing a compact, efficient solution for areas where gravity drainage is impractical. Water pumping stations are differentiated by their applications, such as sourcing from wells, raw water pumping, and high service pumping, each designed to meet specific demand projections and customer needs. Wastewater pumping stations, on

294-459: A dry well or pump house and usually consist only of a wet well. In this configuration, submersible sewage pumps with closely coupled electric motor are mounted within the wet well itself, submerged within the sewage. Submersible pumps are mounted on two vertical guide rails and seal onto a permanently fixed "duckfoot", which forms both a mount and also a vertical bend for the discharge pipe. For maintenance or replacement, submersible pumps are raised by

336-437: A high-level alarm indication, in the event of pump failure; and possibly a guide-rail/auto-coupling/pedestal system, to permit easy removal of pumps for maintenance. Traditional site constructed systems have the valve vault components installed in a separate structure. Having two structural components can lead to potentially serious site problems such as uneven settling between components which results in stress on, and failure of

378-403: A large open passage so as to avoid clogging with debris or winding stringy debris onto the impeller. A four pole or six pole AC induction motor normally drives the pump. Rather than provide large open passages, some pumps, typically smaller sewage pumps, also macerate any solids within the sewage breaking them down into smaller parts which can more easily pass through the impeller. The interior of

420-687: A process which is still ongoing in February 2020. Water is supplied to the reservoir from the New River , via the Northern Transfer Tunnel, and the River Lee Diversion . Vehicular access is at Lea Valley Road A110 Pumping station Pumping stations , also called pumphouses , are public utility buildings containing pumps and equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. They are critical in

462-457: A sewage pump station is a very dangerous place. Poisonous gases, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide , can accumulate in the wet well; an ill-equipped person entering the well would be overcome by fumes very quickly. Any entry into the wet well requires the correct confined space entry method for a hazardous environment. To minimize the need for entry, the facility is normally designed to allow pumps and other equipment to be removed from outside

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504-511: A specific pump controller. RTUs are very helpful in remote monitoring of each pumping station from a centralized control room with SCADA (Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition) systems. This setup can be helpful in monitoring pump faults, levels, and other alarms and parameters, making it more efficient. A pumped-storage scheme is a type of power station for storing and producing electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations. Typically, water

546-681: A variety of infrastructure systems, such as water supply, drainage of low-lying land , canals and removal of sewage to processing sites. A pumping station is an integral part of a pumped-storage hydroelectricity installation. Pumping stations are designed to move water or sewage from one location to another, overcoming gravitational challenges, and are essential for maintaining navigable canal levels, supplying water, and managing sewage and floodwaters. In canal systems, pumping stations help replenish water lost through lock usage and leakage, ensuring navigability. Similarly, in land drainage, stations pump water to prevent flooding in areas below sea level,

588-516: Is a list of those described in this encyclopedia. In the UK, during the Victorian Era , there was a fashion for public buildings to feature highly ornate architecture . Consequently, a considerable number of former pumping stations have been listed and preserved. The majority were originally steam-powered, and where the steam engines are still in situ , many of the sites have since re-opened as museum attractions. Used to pump water from

630-407: Is available, back pumping systems may be employed. Water is extracted from the canal below the lowest lock of a flight and is pumped back to the top of the flight, ready for the next boat to pass through. Such installations are usually small. When low-lying areas of land are drained, the general method is to dig drainage ditches . However, if the area is below sea level then it is necessary to pump

672-479: Is built into the system so that in the event that any one pump is out of service, the remaining pump or pumps will handle the designed flow. The storage volume of the wet well between the "pump on" and "pump off" settings is designed to minimize pump starts and stops, but is not so long a retention time as to allow the sewage in the wet well to go septic . Sewage pumps are almost always end-suction centrifugal pumps with open impellers and are specially designed with

714-409: Is channeled from a high-level reservoir to a low-level reservoir, through turbine generators that generate electricity. This is done when the station is required to generate power. During low-demand periods, such as overnight, the generators are reversed to become pumps that move the water back up to the top reservoir. There are countless thousands of pumping stations throughout the world. The following

756-431: Is fed from underground gravity pipelines (pipes that are sloped so that a liquid can flow in one direction under gravity). Sewage is fed into and stored in a pit, commonly known as a wet well . The well is equipped with electrical instrumentation to detect the level of sewage present. When the sewage level rises to a predetermined point, a pump will be started to lift the sewage upward through a pressurized pipe system called

798-451: Is not possible. A package pumping station is an integrated system, built in a housing manufactured from strong, impact-resistant materials such as precast concrete , polyethylene , or glass-reinforced plastic . The unit is supplied with internal pipework fitted, pre-assembled ready for installation into the ground, after which the submersible pumps and control equipment are fitted. Features may include controls for fully automatic operation;

840-634: The Claverton and Crofton Pumping Stations , are preserved as museum attractions. Examples such as land drainage in the Netherlands water supply in Hong Kong and agricultural drainage in Iraq, underscore the vital role these facilities play in supporting modern infrastructure, environmental management, and energy storage. In countries with canal systems, pumping stations are also frequent. Because of

882-585: The accumulation of sedimentary mud that created the land initially. Elsewhere, pumping stations are used to remove water that has found its way into low-lying areas as a result of leakage or flooding (in New Orleans , for example). In more recent times, a "package pumping station" provides an efficient and economic way of installing a drainage system. They are suitable for mechanical building services collection and pumping of liquids like surface water, wastewater or sewage from areas where drainage by gravity

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924-402: The capital's main roosting site for gulls; 70,000 of these have been recorded at one time, the majority being black-headed gulls , common gulls , lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls . Since the 1950s, the reservoirs have been providing a refuge for wildfowl while they are vulnerable during the late summer moult, and in some years, moulting flocks of great crested grebe have also used

966-759: The contractor, but owing to technical problems, and the intervention of World War II, the reservoir was not finished until 1951. The reservoirs are a 391.3-hectare (967-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest , of which 316.3 hectares are in London and 75 hectares in Essex. They are comparatively shallow and provide open water habitat for wildfowl, gulls and waders. The reservoirs are major wintering grounds for wildfowl, including nationally important populations of shovelers and great crested grebes . They also attract significant numbers of goldeneye ducks , tufted ducks and goosanders . The reservoirs are also one of

1008-450: The demand or projected demand is reasonably defined, and is dependent on a combination of customer needs and fire flow requirements. Average annual per-capita water consumption, peak hour, and maximum daily can vary greatly due to factors such as climate, income levels, population, and the proportions of residential, commercial, and industrial users. Pumping stations in sewage collection systems are normally designed to handle raw sewage that

1050-458: The efficiency and monitoring capabilities of pumping stations, essential for modern systems. Pumped-storage schemes represent a critical use of pumping stations, providing a method for energy storage and generation by moving water between reservoirs at different elevations, highlighting the versatility and importance of pumping stations across sectors. Some pumping stations have been recognized for their architectural and historical significance, e.g.

1092-417: The electrical switchgear and control systems. Due to the much reduced health and safety concerns, and smaller footprint and visibility, submersible pump sewage pumping stations have almost completely superseded traditional sewage pumping stations. Further, a refit of a traditional pumping station usually involves converting it into a modern pumping station by installing submersibles in the wet well, demolishing

1134-605: The embankment. The valves controlling the outflow are 8.0 m high and have a flow capacity of 7 m /s. The siphons are located in the south east corner of the reservoir and discharge is into the River Lee Diversion. The water is part of the Chingford Reservoirs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is a major wintering ground for wildfowl and wetland birds, including nationally important numbers of some species. The water also forms

1176-492: The installation of a vertical spindle electric pump . The emergency drawdown rate (the rate at which the water level in the reservoir can be reduced) was about 0.35 metres/day. Inspections in 2005-07 identified that this was inadequate, and proposed that the drawdown should be 1.0 m/d as defined in the provisions of the Reservoirs Act 1975 (c.23). This was achieved by installing twin 1.2 m diameter siphon pipes over

1218-412: The other hand, are engineered to handle sewage, with designs that ensure reliability and safety, minimizing environmental impacts from overflows. Innovations in pump technology and station design have led to the development of submersible pump stations, which are more compact and safer, effectively reducing the footprint and visibility of sewage management infrastructure. Electronic controllers have enhanced

1260-571: The pipes and connections between components. The development of a packaged pump station system combined all components into a single housing which not only eliminates uneven settling issues, but pre-plumbing and outfitting each unit prior to installation can reduce the cost and time involved with civil work and site labor. Water pumping stations are differentiated from wastewater pumping stations in that they do not have to be sized to account for high peak flow rates. They have five general categories: Water pumping stations are constructed in areas in which

1302-479: The pump house and retiring the dry well by either stripping it, or knocking down the internal partition and merging it with the wet well. Pump manufacturers have always designed and manufactured electronic devices to control and supervise pumping stations. Today it is also very common to use a programmable logic controller (PLC) or Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) for such work, but the experience needed to solve certain particular problems, makes an easy choice to look for

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1344-403: The reservoirs as a refuge. The reservoirs have also been used by migratory birds as a stopover site in autumn and spring, and yellow wagtail regularly breed here. A total of over 85 species of wetlands birds have been recorded at the site. 51°38′20″N 0°01′19″W  /  51.63889°N 0.02194°W  / 51.63889; -0.02194 King George V Reservoir The reservoir

1386-418: The sewage in the wet well, dry wells are underground, confined spaces and require appropriate precautions for entry. Further, any failure or leakage of the pumps or pipework can discharge sewage directly into the dry well with complete flooding not an uncommon occurrence. As a result, the electric motors are normally mounted above the overflow, top water level of the wet well, usually above ground level, and drive

1428-403: The sewage pumps through an extended vertical shaft. To protect the above ground motors from weather, small pump houses are normally built, which also incorporate the electrical switchgear and control electronics. These are the visible parts of a traditional sewage pumping station although they are typically smaller than the underground wet and dry wells. More modern pumping stations do not require

1470-558: The upper parts of the canal, but if no suitable source is available, a pumping station can be used to maintain the water level. An example of a canal pumping station is the Claverton Pumping Station on the Kennet and Avon Canal in southern England, United Kingdom. This pumps water from the nearby River Avon to the canal using pumps driven by a waterwheel which is powered by the river. Where no external water supply

1512-476: The water upwards into water channels that finally drain into the sea. The Victorians understood this concept, and in the United Kingdom they built pumping stations with water pumps , powered by steam engines to accomplish this task. In Lincolnshire, large areas of wetland at sea level, called The Fens , were turned into rich arable farmland by this method. The land is full of nutrients because of

1554-431: The way the system of canal locks work, water is lost from the upper part of a canal each time a vessel passes through. Also, most lock gates are not watertight, so some water leaks from the higher levels of the canal to those lower down. The water has to be replaced or eventually the upper levels of the canal would not hold enough water to be navigable. Canals are usually fed by diverting water from streams and rivers into

1596-438: The well (for example during peak flow periods and wet weather) additional pumps will be used. If this is insufficient, or in the case of failure of the pumping station, a backup in the sewer system can occur, leading to a sanitary sewer overflow —the discharge of raw sewage into the environment. Sewage pumping stations are typically designed so that one pump or one set of pumps will handle normal peak flow conditions. Redundancy

1638-404: The wet well. Traditional sewage pumping stations incorporate both a wet well and a "dry well". Often these are the same structure separated by an internal divide. In this configuration pumps are installed below ground level on the base of the dry well so that their inlets are below water level on pump start, priming the pump and also maximising the available NPSH . Although nominally isolated from

1680-775: Was conceived as part of an overall plan for the Lea Valley and was laid before the Royal Commission on Water Supply (Balfour Committee) in 1893. At this time the responsible authority was the East London Waterworks Company . However, under the provisions of the Metropolis Water Act 1902 , the undertakings of this as well as seven other companies were transferred to the Metropolitan Water Board . Construction

1722-535: Was privatised as Thames Water . The reservoir was formed by the construction of a continuous embankment on the floodplain of the River Lea at Chingford . An earth embankment divides the reservoir into two compartments that are connected by three large diameter culverts . The external grassed embankment consists of a central puddle clay core with shoulder filling comprising a mixture of river terraced gravels and alluvial deposits. The reservoir embankment has

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1764-668: Was started in 1908 and completed in 1912. The reservoir was opened by H.M.King George V in 1913, hence the name. The Metropolitan Water Board operated the reservoir until the Board was abolished in 1974 under the provisions of the Water Act 1973 (c. 37) and ownership and control transferred to the Thames Water Authority . Under the provisions of the Water Act 1989 (c. 15) the Thames Water Authority

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