View source for Lee Valley Reservoir Chain

{{county|Essex}}
[[File:Lee Valley Reservoirs.jpg|250px|thumb|Aerial view of several of the Lee Valley reservoirs]]
The '''Lee Valley Reservoir Chain''' is located in the [[Lee Valley]], forming part of the border between [[Middlesex]] and [[Essex]]. It comprises 13 reservoirs that supply drinking water to [[London]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110124142453/http://paginas.fe.up.pt/~mjneves/publicacoes_files/data/es/ponencias/por_autor/pdf/10109.pdf Reservoir information] Retrieved November 9, 2007</ref>

The Reservoir Chain is a major geographic constraint; together with the [[River Thames|Thames]] it is one of the two significant topographic features that divide the capital and define the communities on either side. The [[Lower Lea Valley]], downstream of the reservoirs, is more integrated, with better east-west transport connectivity.

==Geographic significance==
The Chain separates the Middlesex to the west, from Essex to the east. The corridor includes 13 reservoirs, two to three channels of the [[River Lea|Lee]], as well as marshes and parkland, up to a mile wide.

During WWI, the settlements on both sides of the Upper Lea were badly hit by Germany Army and Navy airship raids. It is believed the crews mistook the Reservoir Chain for the Thames and released their bombs on what they took to be central London.<ref>London 1914-17 The Zeppelin Menace, Ian Castle. Osprey Publishing 2008</ref>

The corridor is part of the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] and its national and international significance for wildlife is reflected by SSSI, Ramsar and SPA designations.<ref>Walthamstow Wetlands SSSI details includes reference to other designations https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9012111&SiteName=&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=</ref> Lying between some of the most densely populated areas in the metropolis, the Reservoir Chain and associated open land provides a highly valued ecological, landscape and recreational resource for the local population.

== Reservoirs ==
The following waters are known collectively as the [[Chingford Reservoirs]], which are a Site of Special Scientific Interest:<ref name = Lee>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/leisure/water_sports___activ/reservoirs/reservoirs.aspx |title=Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Reservoirs |accessdate=2011-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309134903/http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/leisure/water_sports___activ/reservoirs/reservoirs.aspx |archive-date=2010-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[[King George V Reservoir]]
*[[William Girling Reservoir]]

The following waters, together known as the [[Walthamstow Reservoirs]], and with the exception of one, form a Site of Special Scientific Interest:<ref name = Lee/><ref>[http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/news.html Natural England, Nature on the Map] (Search on Walthamstow Reservoirs)</ref>

*[[Lockwood Reservoir]]
*[[High Maynard Reservoir]]
*[[Low Maynard Reservoir]]
*[[East Warwick Reservoir]]
*[[West Warwick Reservoir]]
* Unnamed reservoirs numbered 1 to 5
*[[Banbury Reservoir]] (The only reservoir that is not part of a SSSI)
The reservoirs have the following characteristics:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110124142453/http://paginas.fe.up.pt/~mjneves/publicacoes_files/data/es/ponencias/por_autor/pdf/10109.pdf</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Lee valley reservoirs
!Reservoir
!Water Source (see below)
!Water Supply
!Depth
!Capacity
|-
|King  George V
|River  Lea, New River, Lea Diversion
|Pumped
|24 ft 8 in
|2,750,000 gallons
|-
|William  Girling
|Lea  Diversion
|Pumped
|41 ft
|3,600,000 gallons
|-
|Banbury
|Lea  Diversion & Thames-Lee tunnel
|Pumped
|27 ft 11 in
|650,000 gallons
|-
|Lockwood
|Lea  Diversion & Thames-Lee tunnel
|Pumped
|34 ft 2 in
|550,000 gallons
|-
|High  Maynard
|Lee  Diversion, Walthamstow No. 4, East Warwick
|Gravity-fed
|19 ft
|150,000 gallons
|-
|Low  Maynard
|High  Maynard
|Gravity-fed
|9 ft 10 in
|33,000 gallons
|-
|East  Warwick
|High  Maynard, West Warwick
|Gravity-fed
|19 ft
|210,000 gallons
|-
|West  Warwick
|East  Warwick
|Gravity-fed
|19 ft
|176,000 gallons
|-
|Walthamstow  No. 4
|High  Maynard, Walthamstow No. 5
|Gravity-fed
|19 ft
|130,000 gallons
|-
|Walthamstow  No. 5
|Walthamstow  No. 4
|Gravity-fed
|19 ft
|170,000 gallons
|}

== Water supply ==
The reservoirs are fed by the following waters:
*[[River Lee Diversion]]
*[[River Lee Flood Relief Channel]]
*[[New River]]
* The Thames-Lee Water Main

== Water treatment ==
After being stored in the above reservoirs the water is piped to the [[Coppermill Stream|Coppermills Water Treatment Works]].<ref>[http://www.thames-water.com/en_gb/Downloads/PDFs/PBS_Coppermills_AWTW_263kb.pdf Coppermills] Retrieved November 9, 2007</ref>

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Reservoirs in Middlesex]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Essex]]