The
Birmingham Corporation Water Department was responsible for the supply of water to [[Birmingham]] from 1876 to 1974. It was also known as
Birmingham Corporation Waterworks Department.
Early History 1808 - 1876
[[File:Edgbaston Waterworks.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Birmingham Waterworks Tower by [[John Henry Chamberlain]]]]
The earliest formal supply of water was offered by the [[Birmingham Waterworks Company]]. In 1808 notice of a Bill was given in Parliament for a scheme to provide Birmingham with an organised supply of water. It was opposed, and in 1809 a meeting considered the proposal, appointed a committee, and rejected the idea of the waterworks. A second Bill was rejected in 1811. It was not until 1826 that Parliament granted powers constituting
"the Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Waterworks for the purpose of providing a sufficient and constant supply of good and wholesome water for domestic, manufacturing and other purposes"
The area to be supplied used only the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]]. The initial supply was intermittent. In 1849, the Corporation made agreement with the Company for a constant supply in certain districts. By 1853 a constant supply was universal.
The Grade II [[listed building|listed]] Birmingham Waterworks Tower at [[Edgbaston Reservoir]] was designed by [[John Henry Chamberlain]] and built in 1870. The reservoir was first built to feed the canals, a hundred years previously.
By 1873 the total quantity supplied was around {{convert|3,000|e6impgal|m3}} per annum.
Birmingham Corporation Water Department
[[File:Valve house pediment - geograph.org.uk - 1191311.jpg|thumb|right|Pediment of Elan Aqueduct valve house with "Birmingham Corporation Water" wording]]
Early developments
The Birmingham Corporation Act of 1875 empowered [[Birmingham City Council|Birmingham Corporation]] to purchase the Birmingham Waterworks Company. Takeover was orchestrated by [[Joseph Chamberlain]] Mayor of Birmingham and completed on 1 January 1876 for the sum of £1,350,000 (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|1350000|1876|{{CURRENTYEAR}}|r=-1}}}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}){{Inflation-fn|UK}}. Chamberlain declared to a [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] Committee
We have not the slightest intention of making profit...We shall get our profit indirectly in the comfort of the town and in the health of the inhabitants
The Rivers Bourne and [[River Blythe|Blythe]], Plant's Brook and Perry Stream were used as sources. The Corporation dug six wells at [[Aston]], [[Short Heath, Birmingham|Short Heath]], [[King's Vale]], [[Perry Barr]], [[Selly Oak]], and [[Longbridge]]. These provided {{convert|20|e6impgal|m3}} per day. There were 14 reservoirs with a total capacity of {{convert|628.5|e6impgal|m3}}.
By 1891 population growth in the city was outstripping supply.
Elan aqueduct
[[File:Foel Tower Elan Valley - geograph.org.uk - 145135.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Foel Tower in the Elan Valley]]
The Birmingham Corporation Water Act passed in 1892 authorised the purchase of land in South Wales on the upper portion of the Rivers Elan and Claerwen. Three reservoirs on the Elan and three on the Claerwen were authorised, together with an aqueduct to carry the water to Birmingham. The engineer for the Elan aqueduct scheme was [[James Mansergh]]. Construction work started in 1893 and the [[Elan Valley Railway]] was built to aid construction. [[King Edward VII]] and [[Queen Alexandra]] performed the official opening on 21 July 1904 although building works were not completed towards the end of 1906.
The [[Elan aqueduct]] discharged into two reservoirs at [[Frankley Reservoir]] at [[Frankley]] and [[Bartley Reservoir]] at [[Bartley Green]].
The capacity of the aqueduct was increased with work starting in 1919. By 1921, two {{convert|42|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} mains from Wales delivered about {{convert|25|e6impgal|m3}} per day.
Later history
[[File:Pery Barr Reservoir CoB sign.JPG|thumb|right|City of Birmingham Water Department sign at [[Perry Barr Reservoir]]]]
Birmingham Corporation Water Department existed until 1974 when, under the [[Water Act 1973]], its responsibilities were transferred to the
Severn Trent Water Authority which is now [[Severn Trent Water]].
See also
*[[Edgbaston Waterworks]]
*[[Selly Oak Pumping Station]]
*[[Elan Valley Reservoirs]]
{{City of Birmingham}}