Homesford WTW
The Meerbrook Sough
The water supplied from these works is derived from the Meerbrook Sough, which is an underground tunnel extending from the River Derwent adjacent to the works, across the Wirksworth valley and under the town of Wirksworth with several contributory branches. The tunnel which has a length of some 5 miles and a depth of up to 700 feet was originally constructed to drain the lead mines of the Wirksworth valley. The water appears to come mainly from the millstone grit formation with perhaps 30 per cent from the limestone. It has a total hardness of approximately 285 p.p.m. The Meerbrook Sough drains old lead mines and now is the source of water for Homesford Water Treatment Works.

Photo from David Haworth May 2020 via Facebook Messenger.