Conservation of water resources and management of catchment areas in upland Britain

Abstract

While the over-riding need in the water-supply catchment areas of upland Britain is the conservation of good-quality water supplies to meet the growing demand from urban areas, much more flexibility is being introduced into the use and management of the gathering grounds of upland reservoirs. The combination of sheep-grazing, tourist facilities, and water-catchment protection, in the Trossachs area of Scotland, provides and example of the conservation of a clean water-supply together with controlled use of the agricultural and scenic resources of the area. The introduction of a more effective water-treatment plant in Longdendale, near Manchester, has permitted greater recreational use of the reservoir's gathering grounds, while Sheffield Corporation's forestry policy differs from the grazing policy of the Lower Clyde Water Board. Contrasts in management result from differing attitudes of the water-supply authorities, who all recognize the need for greater flexibility but are dominated by the demand for high-quality water supplies.