Severn Trent is celebrating ‘Brummie water’ as the Elan Valley Aqueduct reaches a milestone age. 2026 marks the full completion of Elan Valley Aqueduct where much of Birmingham’s water supply is sourced.
It is a lasting legacy of an ambitious Birmingham Corporation Water Department scheme to tackle the city’s shortage of clean water during the Industrial Revolution. It was a time when Birmingham’s rapid expansion put enormous strain on supplies and contributed to repeated outbreaks of disease.
Created by a 50,000 strong workforce over a 13-year period from 1893 to 1906, and officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1904, the incredible engineering project in mid-Wales included chain of reservoirs and a 73-mile aqueduct that carries water by gravity all the way to Birmingham. It still benefits the city today.
120 years on, the company is committed to protecting Birmingham’s water, investing millions to preserve the historic aqueduct and completing a major £300m Birmingham Resilience Project creating a secondary supply so the city no longer relies on a single source of water. The project, one that is reported to be one of the company’s largest ever, includes a new treatment works and miles of new tunnels and pipes to secure water supplies for generations to come.
Doug Clarke, water resources planning lead, said: “It takes thousands of people working around the clock to deliver the quality water Brum has come to know and love.
“Just as the Victorians planned for our future, we’re now planning for the next generation investing over £170 million directly into Birmingham’s water network between 2025 and 2030, making sure Birmingham’s tap water keeps flowing.
“We also ask customers to think about their water usage and use it wisely, which will help us to provide water now and for years to come.”
Here are photos giving a glimpse into the history of the 120 year old aqueduct.
5. Elan Valley Aqueduct
Archive pictures show construction of Elan Valley Aqueduct in 1906 | Elan Valley Aqueduct