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Glasgow Corporation Waterworks, Loch Katrine
| Name | Glasgow Corporation Waterworks, Loch Katrine |
| Ortssitz | Glasgow |
| Art des Unternehmens | Wasserwerk |
| Anmerkungen | Loch Katrine liegt in Perthshire ca. 30 miles nördlich von Glasgow. |
| Quellenangaben | [Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1895) 468] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 14.10.1859 |
Eröffnung durch Königin Victoria |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Trinkwasser |
1859 |
Beginn |
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| ZEIT | um 1895 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | The act of parliament for the construction of the first Loch Katrine Water Works was obtained in 1855, and the works were completed and opened by Her Majesty on 14th October 1859. Loch Katrine is situated in Perthshire about 30 miles north of Glasgow, and is the principal of a chain of three lochs, lying in the same valley and forming the right branch of the river Teith; the other two are Loch Achray and Loch Vennachar.
Power was obtained to raise Loch Katrine 4 feet above the previous summer level, and to draw it down 3 feet below, thus giving a total available depth of 7 feet of water, and providing storage for 5,623 million gallons. For the purpose of providing compensation water to the riparian owners on the river Teith, power was also obtained to raise Loch Vennachar 5 feet 9 inches above its previous summer level and to draw it down 6 feet below; and also to raise Loch Drunkie 25 feet, a small loch lying to the south of Loch Vennachar. The quantity of water thus made available was sufficient to maintain a supply of 50 million gallons per day for Glasgow and 401 million gallons per day for compensation to the river Teith.
The point at which the aqueduct leaves Loch Katrine is about 5 miles above the outlet. It is 8 feet wide and 8 feet high throughout with a semi-circular top, and has a fall towards Glasgow of 10 inches per mile. It is 251 miles long, and discharges into the service reservoir at Mugdock near Milngavie, about 7 miles from Glasgow. There are three valleys on the line of the aqueduct, together about 3 miles long; and these are crossed by three parallel lines of cast-iron pipes. Considerable portions of the aqueduct are in tunnel; and where the rock was hard enough, lining was dispensed with. The rough surface of the rock cuttings however has a prejudicial effect upon the velocity of flow of the water.
At the Mugdock reservoir the water is first discharged into a basin, from which it passes over cast-iron gauge-plates 40 feet wide, brought to a thin edge, over which the depth of water passing is regularly recorded and the discharge computed. The reservoir is 317 feet above sea level; it has a water surface of 60 acres, a depth when full of 50 feet, and contains 548 million gallons, or about eleven days' supply to Glasgow at 50 million gallons per day. It thus admits of repairs being done upon the aqueduct, without interrupting the supply of water to the city. The water is drawn from the reservoir into a circular well cut out of the rock, 40 feet diameter and 63 feet deep, fitted with copper wire-cloth strainers, through which the water passes. Thence it is conveyed by two lines of 42-inch pipes laid in a tunnel 420 yards long, and then by four lines of 36-inch pipes to the city. These are together capable of discharging 50 million gallons per day. The works cost £1,330,000.
At the end of 1881 Glasgow had increased in population so greatly that it became apparent a larger supply of water than the aqueduct could convey from Loch Katrine would be required within a few years. Accordingly an act was obtained in 1882 for the construction of an additional service reservoir adjoining the Mugdock reservoir. In 1885 a further act was obtained which gave power to duplicate the aqueduct, to raise the level of the water in Loch Katrine 5 feet higher, and to convert Loch Arklet into a reservoir by raising its water level 25 feet. Loch Arklet adjoins Loch Ratline on the west, but drains into Loch Lomond and thence into the river Leven.
The new works were laid out with the view of an ultimate supply to the city of 100 million gallons per day; and in order to admit of repairs being made upon the aqueducts, the new one has been made large enough to convey 70 million gallons per day. It consists of a succession of tunnels, which for the greater part were driven from the ends without shafts, the drills being worked by compressed air, at a pressure of about 60 lbs. per square inch. It is 23i miles long to the service reservoir, or 11 miles shorter than the old aqueduct; and is 12 feet wide and 9 feet high where in rock and not lined, but only 10 feet wide where it is lined. The bottom is laid with concrete throughout, and it has a fall towards Glasgow of one foot in 5,500, or 111- inches per mile.
At several points along the line there are junctions between the old and the new aqueducts, where the flow of the water is regulated by means of stop-planks placed in recesses in the masonry; and at these places, access-chambers, ventilating shafts, overflow and discharge-valves are provided. The bridges, of which there are five, consist of an inner channel of concrete and outer walls of masonry, with an air space between to prevent the effects of variations of temperature upon the water channel. The pipes across the Endrick and Blane valleys will ultimately consist of four parallel lines, each 48 inches diameter. For the purpose of construction, the aqueduct was divided into seven sections, and the order in which these were executed was determined by the resistance which the water experienced in passing through the old aqueduct. The portions where there was the greatest resistance were first supplemented by corresponding portions of the new aqueduct.
The new Craigmaddie service reservoir, adjoining the Mugdock, will have a water surface of 86 acres, and will contain 700 million gallons of water, or a supply to the city for fourteen days at the rate of 50 million gallons per day. The two reservoirs together will contain sufficient water for twelve and a half days' supply at the rate of 100 million gallons per day. The inlet and outlet works are so arranged that either or both reservoirs may be used for the supply of the city. Considerable expense has been incurred in reaching a proper water-tight foundation for the puddle wall, the trench at one point having been carried to a depth of 193 feet below the original surface of the ground. It is expected that the whole of the works connected with the reservoir will be completed by next summer. The outlet works are similar to those of the Mugdock reservoir; there will ultimately be four lines of 36-inch pipes leading to the city, but two only are being laid down at present. The expenditure upon the new works up to 31st May 1895 has been £1,080,000.
The other works embraced in the act of 1885 include the raising of the level of the water in Loch Katrine 5 feet above its present top water-level, bringing its capacity up to 9,849 million gallons, which it is estimated will supply the city with 65 million gallons per day. The raising of the water-level in Loch Arklet 25 feet will add 10 million gallons per day to the supply. The first of these two works will be entered upon shortly. When additional water is wanted, it can be got from the adjoining valley of Loch Doine and Loch Voil, immediately north of the Teith valley.
The whole of the works are under the superintendence of Mr. James M. Gale, Engineer to the Water Commissioners |
| QUELLE | [Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1895) 468] |
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