Reservoir water — our cup is overflowing

Date published: 01/09/2008

It was a gloomy August — officially — with barely half the normal sunshine.

But every cloud has its silver lining and there is no need to worry about water supplies as Rochdale’s reservoirs are 90 per cent full.

United Utilities says we have had 150 per cent of the normal rainfall for August.

Across the North-West, reservoirs would normally be at 70 per cent for the time of year, but they are now at 90 per cent.

But no records have been set. It has still not been as wet as last summer.

Among the reservoirs serving Rochdale, Piethorne at Newhey is 65 per cent full.

Rochdale can also get water from the Lake District where Thirlmere is at 80 per cent and Haweswater at 75 per cent.

The Environment Agency said overall storage at reservoirs across England is 91 per cent.