| Draycote Water | |
|---|---|
 Draycote Water | |
  Draycote Water | |
| Location | Warwickshire |
| Coordinates | 52°19′02″N1°20′29″W / 52.31727°N 1.34127°W /52.31727; -1.34127 |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Managing agency | Severn Trent Water |
| First flooded | 1969 (1969) |
| Surface area | 240 hectares (590 acres) |
| Average depth | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Water volume | 5 billiongallons (23 million m³) |
Draycote Water is a 240-hectare (590-acre)reservoir andcountry park near the village ofDunchurch, 3.75 miles (6 km) south ofRugby inWarwickshire, England, owned and operated bySevern Trent Water. It draws its water from theRiver Leam, and suppliesdrinking water to Rugby andCoventry. It is named after the nearby hamlet ofDraycote and is the largest body of water within Warwickshire.
The reservoir was created in the 1960s and was opened in 1970, with a new pipe and pump installed in 2012. It has a capacity of up to 5 billiongallons (23 million m³) and a maximum depth of 70 feet (21 m).
It is a site forbirdwatching and has a bird hide, with a feeding station sponsored by theWest Midland Bird Club. Severn-Trent manage an adjacent 20 acres (8 ha)country park. Draycote is used by cyclists, runners, windsurfers, fly fishers and for boating. Fishing is forbrown trout andrainbow trout from the banks or from boats. A farm to the north east of the site has a herd ofalpacas.
Draycote Water is an artificialreservoir, which supplies water to southern and eastern Warwickshire, in particularRugby (viaBarby Storage Reservoir[1]) andCoventry.[2] Owned and managed bySevern Trent Water,[3] it is located just to the south of theM45 motorway in the hamlet ofDraycote, which is close toDunchurch.[4] It is accessed from theA426 road, atgrid referenceSP450690. The reservoir has no natural inlets, its water being obtained by pumping from the nearbyRiver Leam and from nearbyStanford Reservoir which obtains its water from theRiver Avon.[2] It has an area of approximately 240 hectares (590 acres), with a maximum depth of 70 feet (21 m) and a capacity of 5 billiongallons (23 million m³).[2] The shoreline of the reservoir is a mixture of concrete and natural embankment.[5]
Draycote Water was built between 1967 and 1969, to cope with rising demand in eastern and southern Warwickshire, and opened in 1970.[2] In early 2012 the reservoir had to be closed temporarily, as record-low rainfall during the winter months had caused its level to reduce to less than 50% of capacity.[6] Severn Trent responded by reversing the flow of water in an existing pipeline between Draycote Water and Welches Meadow Reservoir adjacent to the River Leam inLeamington Spa.[7] This development required a short length of new pipe at the Draycote end and a new pump at Leamington.
The reservoir features many bird species. This includes thegreat northern diver, which makes a prolonged visit during the winter months, along withkittiwake and small numbers ofMediterranean andlittle gulls. There are several species of diving duck with thetufted duck the most common, numbering around 1,200 individuals. The most common bird at the site is theblack-headed gull, which forms the majority of a gull roost of more than 50,000 individuals. A number of waders visit Draycote in the autumn, including theringed andlittle ringed plover.[5]
The reservoir's fish include thebrown trout andrainbow trout, some with a mass in excess of 5 kilograms (11 lb). These are fished for sport, both from boats and from the banks.[8]
To the north east of the reservoir isToft Farm,[9] which features a herd ofalpacas.[10]
_8.22.jpg)
Draycote Water has acountry park on its southern shore, which extends across 21 acres (8.5 ha). The park has facilities for bird watching and fishing, as well as several nature trails and a visitor centre. A track around the perimeter allows cyclists and walkers to circumnavigate the reservoir, a total distance of 5 miles (8 km).[11] The Draycote Water Sailing Club is situated on the shoreline and offers dinghy sailing and windsurfing as well as races.[12]
The reservoir's owner, Severn Trent Water, warns the public not to swim in the reservoir, citing the large depth, potentially cold temperatures, and the risk of currents caused by the pumps which supply the water.[3]
