During a recent photo session at Crummock Water I did a little research for the news feed on my web site, what I found was a bit of an eye-opener, so if you are not aware, here is a brief outline of the planned changes which Untied Utilities want to happen with these being completed by the end of 2028.
United Utilities have, for many years, extracted water from Crummock Water for the West Cumbria area.
As part of Untied Utilities legal obligation to operating a reservoir, they are required to conduct regular weekly inspections, as well as a 10-year inspection undertaken by an independent Qualified Civil Engineer (QCE). In the previous inspection by the QCE at Crummock Water, repairs and upgrade work was identified which needed to be carried out by 2028 to comply with the Reservoir Safety Act 1975.
The work would require replacement of the weir, improved overflow system and replacement of the wave wall. If Crummock Water was retained, significant construction and disruption would be required. This would also introduce large expanses of new concrete and assets that would have a significant impact both visually, and to the environment.
The need for additional works is reviewed every 10 years in-line with current legislation, so there is no guarantee that if the weir was kept, the site may still require significant additional investment in 10 years’ time.
In a nutshell, to keep Crummock Water as it is today, it is going to cost Untied Utilities to maintained the weir and ensure it is safe.
So, to save United Utilities a few pounds, they are suggesting that as the current weir does not provide any flood attenuation benefit to help manage flood risk downstream, removal of the weir would be the most cost-effective method for them.
Removal of the weir will lower the outlet level within Crummock by approximately 1.35 meters, with the new outlet from Crummock Water consisting of two naturalised river channels, each approximately five meters wide.
The two new outlet channels, combined with a natural ‘rougher’ surface act as a throttle, holding back water during a storm event and slow the flow of water passing forward from the lake in comparison with the existing forty-meter-wide smooth outlet weir.
Park Beck work will remove this concrete channel and return the natural curves of the watercourse. This would reduce the rate at which the water enters into Crummock Water, with multiple channels that would create several points of entry during high flows and remove the pathway for flood water to bypass Crummock Water and flow straight into the River Cocker.
What does this all mean to the current weir and extract point for Crummock Water, firstly all existing concrete structures plus pumping station are to be removed, the level of the lake is to be reduced by 1.35 meters and returning the area its natural habitat.
Image produced by United Utilities of how the proposed changes will look at the western end of Crummock Water.
Image produced by United Utilities of how the proposed changes will look at Park Beck entry into Crummock Water
How do Untied Utilities propose to manage the large volume of water that is to be extracted from the lake, after all it is a substantial size, it is 2.5 miles long, 0.6 miles wide, and has an area of 2.5 square kilometers, that will be sizable volume of water that needs to be released, water from Crummock water flows into the River Cocker, which then runs in to the River Derwent at Cockermouth, onwards into the see at Workington?
United Utilities have produced a series of images which demonstrate how the reduced lake levels may impact on Crummock Water as a whole.
Once the works start, entry to the Lanthwaite Car Park, Lanthwaite Woods and access to the lakes circular footpath will be prohibited.
Currently there is access around the full shoreline of Crummock Water, it remains to be seen if United Utilities are committing to keep access available to the public as there is a distinct lack of bridges and pathways in the above images?
There will be substantial upheaval and disruption during construction works with enabling works and construction works lasting a planned 3 years.
Further information about the proposed changes at Crummock water can be found at:
https://www.unitedutilities.com/Crummock/
https://www.unitedutilities.com/globalassets/documents/pdf/crummock-panels-september-2023.pdf
https://www.unitedutilities.com/globalassets/documents/pdf/crummock-bed-level.pdf
