Rutland Water
| Rutland Water | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Rutland |
| Coordinates | 52°40′N 0°40′W / 52.667°N 0.667°WCoordinates: 52°40′N 0°40′W / 52.667°N 0.667°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | England |
| Managing agency | Anglian Water |
| Designation | Site of Special Scientific Interest |
| Built | 1971-1975 |
| First flooded | 1976 |
| Surface area | 10.86 square kilometres (4.19 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 124 million cubic metres (4.4×109 cu ft) |
| Designated | 4 October 1991 |
Rutland Water is Anglian Water's drinking water reservoir in the county of Rutland, England, to the east of the county town, Oakham. It was known as Empingham Reservoir during its construction and until its official opening in 1976. The centre of its dam is at British national grid reference SK942078. It provides a reserve supply of water in the driest and most densely populated quarter of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. By surface area it is the largest reservoir in England, but by capacity it is exceeded by Kielder Water.
Set in 3,100 acres (13 km2) of countryside, it has a 25-mile (40 km) perimeter track for walking and visitors may hire a bicycle. Since the water is drawn upon when needed, the relative areas of land and water vary a little but the flatter parts of the lake margin are enclosed by banks so that the wetland nature reserve is maintained (grid reference SK886073).
Its construction by damming the Gwash valley near Empingham was completed in 1975. It flooded six or seven square kilometres of the Gwash valley as well as the side valley at the head of which lies Oakham. Nether Hambleton and most of Middle Hambleton were demolished and their wells were plugged as part of the ground preparation. Their neighbouring village of Upper Hambleton survived, and now sits on the Hambleton Peninsula. The Gwash makes a net input to the lake but its flow downstream is maintained. Most of the stored water is extracted from the River Welland at grid reference TF017060, between Tinwell and Stamford and from the River Nene upstream from Peterborough, a city which is a major user of the water.
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