Occasional periods of dry weather in Scotland have highlighted the importance of ensuring reservoirs have the storage required to meet the demands of customers and businesses. In July 2010, following a prolonged dry spell across the Dumfries and Galloway region in Scotland, the Black Esk Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to a population of 36,000 in surrounding villages, was estimated to have a supply deficit of 10 million litres a day.
In the short term, Scottish Water worked locally on contingency measures to maintain supplies. For the long term, an ambitious capital project was developed to boost water supply resilience by raising the height of the impounding dam at Black Esk.
“Our Black Esk Reservoir has the world’s only circular piano key weir in the middle of a reservoir. Black & Veatch’s design is ingenious.”
Ian Skilling, Water Operations Manager, Scottish Water