King George VI Reservoir

Infobox lake
lake_name = King George VI Reservoir
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
type = reservoir
location = Surrey
coords = coord|51.449075|N|0.502482|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title
type = Man made reservoir
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United Kingdom
length =
width =
area = convert|350|acre|km2
depth =
max-depth = convert|56|ft|m|abbr=on
volume = convert|3493000000|impgal|U.S.gal L|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities = The King George VI Reservoir in England lies to the south of Stanwellmoor near Stanwell and Heathrow. The reservoir was opened in November 1947 and named after the then reigning monarch King George VI. It is owned by Thames Water.

The reservoir occupies convert|350|acre|km2 and holds 3493 million imperial gallons (15,880,000 m³). [Denis Smith "Civil Engineering Heritage" Thomas Telford 2001 ISBN 0727728768 ] Its maximum height above the original ground level is convert|56|ft|m|abbr=on. Like the other Lower Thames reservoirs, it is of traditional earthen dam construction, with a puddled clay core supported by ballast embankments built from materials excavated on site. [Henry Hewlett "Long-Term Benefits and Performance of Dams" (Proceedings the 13th Conference of the British Dam Society held at the University of Kent, June 2004) Thomas Telford 2004] It is entirely man-made, as the area had no natural topographical features that could be dammed off to create a reservoir.

This reservoir and the adjacent Staines Reservoirs receive their input from the River Thames at Hythe End just above Bell Weir Lock. The Staines Aqueduct continues eastwards, passing the Water Treatment Works at Kempton Park, to supply the Water Treatment Works at Hampton. The other adjacent reservoir, Wraysbury Reservoir, is situated to the west on the other side of the M25.

The reservoir forms part of the Staines Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest. The reservoirs carry nationally important wintering populations of tufted ducks, pochard, goosander and goldeneye.

ee also

*London water supply infrastructure
*List of SSSIs in Surrey

References

External links

* [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/c8edb0bea13845a28025700d0044a4a2/$FILE/PMZ%201%20-%20King%20George%20VI%20and%20Staines%20Reservoir%202.pdf Surrey County Council map]