Vartry Reservoir

Infobox lake
lake_name = Vartry Reservoir
"Taiscumar Fheartraí"
image_lake = Vartry Reservoir.jpg
caption_lake = Roundwood Lakes
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = County Wicklow
coords = coord|53|03|N|6|12|W|region:IE_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow =
outflow = River Vartry
catchment =
basin_countries = Ireland
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
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residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
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Vartry Reservoir ( _ga. Taiscumar Fheartraí) is a reservoir at Roundwood in County Wicklow, Ireland. The water is piped from Vartry to a large open service reservoir in Stillorgan in the southern suburbs of Dublin. The reservoir is operated by Dublin City Council. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
] ]

The original (lower) reservoir was completed in the 1860s, and has a capacity of 11.3 billion litres and a maximum depth of 18.3 meters. A second embankment, 3.5 km upstream, was completed in 1923 to form the upper reservoir. This has a capacity of 5.6 billion litres and a maximum depth of 13.4 metres.

History

The Vartry Reservoir scheme involved the partial redirection and damming of the Vartry river, the building of a series of water piping and filtering systems (and related public works) to carry fresh water to the city. [http://www.enfo.ie/leaflets/bs22.htm ENFO - Ireland's public service department with responsibility for environmental publications - Article on Dublin's Water Supply] ]

Between 1862 and 1868 the lower reservoir was formed by constructing an earthen dam across the valley of the River Vartry after a Dublin Water Works Committee was established to develop a new water supply to Dublin and suburbs. [ cite book
last = Norwood
first = John
title = On the Working of the Sanitary Laws in Dublin, with Suggestions for their Amendment
publisher = Dublin: Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland
series = Vol. VI, Part XLIII
year = 1872/1973
pages = pp230-242
isbn = [http://www.tara.tcd.ie/bitstream/2262/5701/1/jssisiVolVIPartXLIII_230242.pdf] [http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/5701] ] The committee was chaired by Dr. John Gray who actively promoted what would become the "Vartry scheme". [http://www.glasnevin-cemetery.ie/www.glasnevin-cemetery.ie/cemarchgraygray.html Glasnevin-Cemetery.ie - Entry on Sir John Gray] ] The scheme was formally opened on June 30 1863.

This work was particularly important in the improvement of conditions in Dublin city, and to public health, as it improved sanitation and helped reduce outbreaks of cholera, typhus and other diseases associated with contaminated water. [http://www.faduda.net/articles/johngray.html Faduda.net/articles/johngray - Doctor Who?] ]

References