Fresh water for Londoners
The New River and West Reservoir
The New River is neither 'new' nor is it a 'river'. It is an artificial canal which runs 20 miles from the Lee Navigation to Stoke Newington supplying London with fresh water from Hertfordshire as it has since 1613.
Saved from irrelevance
When the Thames Water Ring Main opened in 1994 it at first seemed likely to make the New River redundant. The ring main scheme includes pumps, at Stoke Newington to raise water for local distribution.
The New River was saved by a combination of: the additional demand for water in the London Docklands; the development of the Artificial Recharge Scheme; and interest from local residents.
The Artificial Recharge Scheme
Thames Water's Artificial Recharge Scheme includes boreholes and pumping stations at sites along the New River to Stoke Newington. The pumps transfer treated water into the aquifer lying about 250 feet (76m) below London when there is more water than customer need. At times of drought, water is pumped up from the aquifer and into the New River and then to the Coppermills Water Treatment Works.
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 20 January 2007
