Chelmarsh Reservoir

Chelmarsh Reservoir is a water supply reservoir located in the village of Chelmarsh, Shropshire. The reservoir is operated by South Staffordshire Water and was created in 1963 to augment the supply of water in a large area of South Staffordshire and the Black Country. The main source of water to the reservoir is from abstraction from the River Severn.

Chelmarsh
Country	England
Location	Shropshire
Construction began	1963
Opening date	1966
Construction cost	£680,000
Owner(s)	South Staffordshire Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Chelmarsh Brook
Height	27m
Length	700m
Elevation at crest	70.1m
Spillway capacity	18m3
Reservoir
Total capacity	3,063,000m3
Catchment area	1km2
Surface area	0.39km2
Normal elevation	68.9m
Power Station
Hydraulic head	28m

The reservoir is the main source of supply for Sedgley beacon service reservoir that feeds potable water to some parts of Wolverhampton. Chelmarsh Reservoir attracts many species of wild birds.

Hydrology

The site chosen for the reservoir was the valley of Chelmarsh Brook on the west bank of the Severn, about ¾ mile from Hampton Loade Ferry. Previously the site had been the location of a small dam which created Park Pond and served as an ornamental lake for Chelmarsh Hall.