Derwent Valley Water Board Explained

The Derwent Valley Water Board was constituted by the Derwent Valley Water Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. cclxix) to supply the cities of Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield, and the county of Derbyshire, with water impounded by a series of reservoirs along the upper reaches of the River Derwent in the Peak District of Derbyshire.

The board's works included the following reservoirs:

• Howden, built 1901-1912, capacity 1980e6impgal, formed by a masonry dam 117feet high and 1080feet long.
• Derwent, built 1902-1916, capacity 2120e6impgal, formed by a masonry dam 114feet high and 1110feet long.
• Ladybower, built 1935-1945, capacity 6310e6impgal, formed by an earth embankment 140feet high and 1250feet long.

The board was abolished in 1974 under the terms of the Water Act 1973 (c. 37) and responsibility for the works was transferred to the new Severn Trent Water Authority.

References

• The Derwent Valley Water Board's Undertaking (1972)
• Water Act 1973 (1973 c.37)
• https://archive.org/stream/engineeringwonde03willuoft/engineeringwonde03willuoft_djvu.txt
• http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/onlinelists/GB0288%20DL76.pdf