Surely you can smell the fresh air here at Torduff Reservoir. It is located south of Edinburgh near the Pentland Hills. Torduff Reservoir is vital to Edinburgh’s water supply.
Let’s delve into the story of Torduff Reservoir. It is a scenic body of water. It stretches about 460 meters long and 120 meters wide. The reservoir is nestled at the western edge of the Pentland Hills. It is about 1.5 kilometers south of Edinburgh’s outskirts.
Did you know that the Capelaw Hill rises to the southeast of Torduff Reservoir? Its peak reaches 454 meters. The Clubbiedean Reservoir is a key feature. It lies 200 meters southwest of Torduff. Water flows from Clubbiedean into Torduff. This flow forms the main source of water for Torduff Reservoir.
The Bonaly Burn flows from the northeast end of Torduff. It merges with the Dean Burn from Bonaly Reservoir. Together they continue as part of Edinburgh’s water system.
Now let’s turn back the clock to 1851. That’s when construction finished at Torduff Reservoir. Like other local reservoirs Torduff helps supply Edinburgh with water. Scottish Water manages the reservoir today.
Imagine the views from Torduff. Picture the slopes of Capelaw Hill rising gently. Consider the heather blooming in vibrant purples during summer.
Torduff Reservoir faced some challenges in the 1980s. Engineers discovered leaks. Remedial work was carried out to fix them.
We should also touch on James Leslie. In 1847 he saw the need for more water. He also sought an Act of Parliament. This led to the construction of Clubbiedean Torduff and Bonaly reservoirs. These reservoirs would store spring water. This would maintain Edinburgh’s water supply even during droughts. The Act required a constant water supply to homes. Sanitary reformer Edwin Chadwick championed this concept.
Leslie designed the northern reservoirs with earth dams. These dams had a specific slope. It was three to one on the upstream side. The slope was two and a half to one on the downstream side. At Torduff and Loganlea the outlet setup mirrored Harlaw. The lower outlets fed into tunnels cut through rock.
Let’s appreciate Torduff’s history. It is a testament to Victorian engineering. It highlights the ongoing effort to supply Edinburgh with clean water. Next time you turn on the tap think of Torduff Reservoir.