Rutland Waters CS

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  • Created by: Qiao-Chu
  • Created on: 08-04-13 10:43

Background

Rutland Water is a reservoir in the East Midlands.

Dam and reservoir created during the 1970s.

Reservoir covers a 12km^2 area and filled with water from the River Welland and River Nene.

Designed to supply East Midlands with more water, enough to cope with rapid population growth in places like Peterborough.

Areas around reservoir used as nature reserve and recreation.

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Economic Impacts

Reservoir bosted loal economy - became popular tourist attraction because of wildlife and recreation facilities.

Around 6km^2 of land flooded to create reservoir including farmland so farmers lost livelihood.

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Social Impacts

Many recreational activities take place on or around reservoir e.g. sailing, windsurfing, birdwatching and cycling.

Jobs have been created to build and maintain reservoir and to run nature reserve and recreational activities.

Schools use reservoir for educational visits.

Two villages demolished to make way for reservoir.

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Environmental Impacts

Rutland Water is Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - area where wildlife is protected.

Hundreds of species of birds live around the reservoir and tens of thousands of waterfowl (birds living on or near water) come to Rutland Water over the winter.

Variety of habitats found around reservoir e.g. marshes, mudflats and lagoons - lots of different organisms live in or around reservoir.

Ospreys (fish-eating birds of prey extinct in Britain) reintroduced to central Britain by Rutland Osprey Project at reservoir.

Large area of land flooded to create reservoir destroying some habitats.

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Sustainability

Supply of water from reservoir has to be sustainable so people can get water they need today without impacting people needing water in the future.

Water supply cannot be depleted or environment damaged too much or supply won't be the same in the future. 

To use reservoir sustainably, people can only take out as much water as is replaced by rivers supplying it.

This way, supply will stay the same in the future.

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