The first instalment of the present works was constructed in 1849 and 1850, consisting of a line of pipes collecting springs from the valley of the Bottle Brook, a portion of the filter tunnels alongside the River, and a circular collecting tank 150 feet in diameter, two Cornish Pumping Engines, about 50-horse-power each, supplied with steam from 4 boilers, a pumping main of 18” diameter and service main also 18” in diameter, a storage Reservoir of 1 1/4 million gallons capacity, 3 filter beds, and a Service Reservoir of 800,000 gallons capacity, these works comprising what are known as the Low Level Works. Additional works were erected in 1875, comprising a circular collecting tank 50 feet in diameter, further extensions of the filter tunnels, and 2 rotary single cylinder pumping engines about 100 horse-power each, supplied with steam from 4 boilers, a pumping main of 20in. diameter, and a service main 18in. (a main of 30in. in diameter has since been laid to the town), a storage reservoir of 1 1/2 million gallons capacity with 4 filter beds and a service reservoir of 1 million gallons capacity, these comprising what are known as the High Level Works. The Service Reservoir at Littleover, two miles from Derby, with an original capacity of 300,000 gallons supplied from the High Level Works, has since been enlarged to a total capacity of 925,000 gallons, and assists in supplying the higher parts of the town. The filter tunnels were extended on the sides of the River Derwent in 1891, and again in 1903, thus increasing the collecting area. Additional pumping plant was erected in 1900 for use in emergencies, and two additional filter beds have been constructed at the Low Level Works. (From the 1908 Public Health Report)
In the 1960s? the new works were built within the settlement tank - known as the sump. Built in the centre was the Accelator? - a device for flocculating water solids by mixing with chemicals. By the 1960s new pyramidal settlement tanks and back washed sand filters were also used. A new pump hall using electric pumps was constructed rendering the old stream driven pumps redundant.
Caption John Simpson - photocopy from the Water Supply of Derby 1848 -1948. The photograph is difficult to date, but is very much as it would have been in 1875 when additional works were erected, comprising a circular collecting tank 50 feet. this can just be seen in front of the left hand pumping station.
925,000 gallons, and assists in supplying the higher parts of the town. The filter tunnels were extended on the sides of the River Derwent in 1891, and again in 1903, thus increasing the collecting area. Additional pumping plant was erected in 1900 for use in emergencies, and two additional filter
beds have been constructed at the Low Level Works. (From the 1908 Public Health Report)
In the 1960s? the new works were built within the settlement tank - known as the sump. Built in the centre was the Accelator? - a device for flocculating water solids by mixing with chemicals. By the 1960s new pyramidal settlement tanks and back washed sand filters were also used. A new pump hall using electric pumps was constructed rendering the old stream driven pumps redundant.
Caption John Simpson - photocopy from the Water Supply of Derby 1848 -1948. The photograph is difficult to date, but is very much as it would have been in 1875 when additional works were erected, comprising a circular collecting tank 50 feet. this can just be seen in front of the left hand pumping station.