Elan Valley Aqueduct

Birmingham grew rapidly as an industrial city in the late 19th century. A lack of clean water led to numerous outbreaks of disease. Birmingham Corporation Water Department built a chain of reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Wales to collect fresh water from the hills.

The water was carried by gravity to Frankley reservoir in Birmingham via the Elan aqueduct, also built as part of the scheme. Travelling at less than 2 miles an hour the water took 2.5 to 3 days to travel 73 miles (117km) to the city.

Work on the reservoirs started in 1893. Work on the aqueduct began in 1896 and finished in 1906. The project provided abundant clean water for the city. Cases of cholera were dramatically reduced and eventually disappeared.

To learn more about Elan Valley Water Supply click here: https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-...