{"id":3552,"date":"2025-09-20T20:08:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T19:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/?p=3552"},"modified":"2025-09-20T20:11:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T19:11:00","slug":"how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3552-how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good","title":{"rendered":"How Birmingham gets its drinking water from Wales, and why it tastes so good"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>They say there is nothing better than tap water in Birmingham. It is not just clean, it is refreshing. It is no coincidence that it is consumed by over a million residents and visitors to the city. What&#8217;s more, Birmingham water was once recognised as the best-tasting water in the United Kingdom. In 2008, a group of experts, including Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, rated the local drinking water as first-class in a blind taste test, so there can be no doubt about the accuracy of the experiment. And such synonyms from the judges as \u2018incredibly pure\u2019 and \u2018mountain stream of freshness\u2019 speak for themselves. Read about where Birmingham gets its drinking tap water and, most importantly, how it is purified at <a href=\"http:\/\/birminghamname.com\">birminghamname.com<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0f59f06d6cf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0f59f06d6cf\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3552-how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good\/#Where_does_Birmingham_get_its_drinking_water\" >Where does Birmingham get its drinking water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3552-how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good\/#Water_purification_project\" >Water purification project<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3552-how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good\/#Technical_details\" >Technical details<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3552-how-birmingham-gets-its-drinking-water-from-wales-and-why-it-tastes-so-good\/#Birmingham_Sustainability_Project\" >Birmingham Sustainability Project<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_does_Birmingham_get_its_drinking_water\"><\/span>Where does Birmingham get its drinking water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1052\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12.png 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12-1536x1010.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12-696x458.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-12-1068x702.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Birmingham&#8217;s water comes from 73 miles away in the picturesque Welsh valley of Elan. Experts say that the location of the water source may be responsible for its exquisite taste. The valley is famous for its striking dams and picturesque landscapes. The water is sent to the Frankling water treatment plant, where it is purified, filtered and disinfected. It is then prepared for distribution by Severn Trent Water in the Midlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this is not the only treatment that <a href=\"https:\/\/montreal-name.com\/uk\/eternal-3160-vykorystannya-pytnoyi-vody-strategiya-ekonomiyi-v-monreali-ta-kvebeku\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drinking water<\/a> undergoes. Welsh water enters the station from the River Severn via the Trimple water treatment plant and the Elan aqueduct, which connects the valley of the same name with the Frankl reservoir. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in 1904. It can hold enough water to supply Birmingham for several days without replenishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few words about the aqueduct, as it has an interesting and long history. The Elan Valley water pipeline is over 100 years old. It is not surprising that it requires regular maintenance. Therefore, from time to time, local engineers enter the canal to carry out repair work. At this time, of course, no water is supplied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, when this happens, water is supplied to Birmingham from other parts of the Midlands. In any case, residents have never been left without water. Severn Trent Water, the company responsible for supplying water, considers its primary mission to be maintaining the aqueduct and keeping it in working order so that Birmingham residents can enjoy excellent water from Wales for years to come. Therefore, after repairs are completed, water is supplied again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for some technical details, the water treatment plant in Frankley operates along a 1 to 2,300-foot slope. There are no delays in water supply; it is delivered from Wales in about two days. Its speed at this point is about two miles per hour. It is then purified, filtered and disinfected in preparation for distribution through the Midland network. Gravel, sand and anthracite are used in the filtration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joseph Chamberlain played a key role in the construction of the dams when, in the 1890s, it became clear that the city&#8217;s existing water supply methods were unable to provide the necessary amount of water, given the growing population. Prior to this, water was supplied from the lakes of Witton and local wells. Incidentally, they still exist today, as the construction of the so-called Welsh dams did not destroy them. However, these structures are now used only for recreation and not as the main source of water in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Water_purification_project\"><\/span>Water purification project<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"847\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13.png 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13-1536x813.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13-696x368.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-13-1068x565.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Elan Valley Aqueduct has been transporting raw water from the valley in Wales over a distance of 118 km, after which it is supplied to the Frankley Water Treatment Works in Birmingham. The treatment plant was opened at the same time as the aqueduct, so it has been treating water for more than 100 years to supply residents and visitors to the city, as well as numerous large and small industrial enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is clear that over such a long period of operation, the treatment plant has undergone certain renovations. For example, the original old sand filtration units were dismantled. They were replaced with much more modern equipment, which undoubtedly affects the quality of the water, making its quality parameters even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, it became clear that the aqueduct needed important maintenance work. At the same time, to ensure a stable water supply to consumers in Birmingham, the Frankley water treatment plant needed a new treatment stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Technical_details\"><\/span>Technical details<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"879\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14.png 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14-1536x844.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14-696x382.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-14-1068x587.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to carry out maintenance work on the open aqueduct, it had to be shut down and drained several times over a period of several weeks to complete the necessary work. This required the use of high-lift pumps. This involved supplying and treating river water from the River Severn at Trimple and installing granular activated carbon at the water treatment plant. This work could have allowed the main water treatment plant to be shut down for testing for 5-7 days at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The duration of the main water pipeline shutdowns required for maintenance work would exceed the current capacity for river water supply, storage and treatment by the water treatment plant. Therefore, in order to facilitate maintenance work on the aqueduct and ensure that water demand was met during shutdowns, the water treatment plant needed to be upgraded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>River water was to be pumped to the treatment plant from the River Severn using existing transfer capacity and a new raw water pumping station to be installed as part of the Birmingham Resilience Project at Lichfield. The total capacity for supplying and treating river water with the new treatment flow was to be approximately 25% less than the capacity of the existing aqueduct treatment facilities and would be supplemented by additional treated water from the mains supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All this had to be done to compensate for the shortfall during maintenance of the main water pipeline. At the same time, the new treatment stream could also treat water from the aqueduct, providing additional treatment capacity and flexibility for the water treatment plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Birmingham_Sustainability_Project\"><\/span>Birmingham Sustainability Project<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"827\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15.png 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15-300x155.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15-768x397.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15-1536x794.png 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15-696x360.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/image-15-1068x552.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All this work was to be carried out as part of the Birmingham Sustainability Project. Severn Trent Water Ltd was promoting the water treatment project for a reason. They wanted to provide a new technological flow at the water treatment plant, capable of treating raw water coming from the aqueduct, as well as raw water from the River Severn. The treatment capacity of the new process stream was to be significantly greater than any of the existing streams. Upon completion of the project, Severn Trent Water Ltd hoped to operate the water treatment plant as a three-stream facility, which would provide increased sustainability for the company&#8217;s customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new treatment stream included the construction of a dedicated chemical dosing plant to support the new treatment, filtration and sedimentation processes. In addition, rising levels of the pesticide metaldehyde in the River Severn prompted Severn Trent Water to choose powdered activated carbon for its removal. The storage and dosing systems were to be built at the existing river intake at Trimple and at a new pressure tank on the main line from the Lyckhill pumping station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/news\/local-news\/how-birmingham-tap-water-taste-25802600\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/news\/local-news\/how-birmingham-tap-water-taste-25802600<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/waterprojectsonline.com\/case-studies\/brp-treated-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/waterprojectsonline.com\/case-studies\/brp-treated-2018\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/archaeologydataservice.ac.uk\/library\/browse\/issue.xhtml?recordId=1163322&amp;recordType=GreyLitSeries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/archaeologydataservice.ac.uk\/library\/browse\/issue.xhtml?recordId=1163322&amp;recordType=GreyLitSeries<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They say there is nothing better than tap water in Birmingham. It is not just clean, it is refreshing. It is no coincidence that it is consumed by over a million residents and visitors to the city. What&#8217;s more, Birmingham water was once recognised as the best-tasting water in the United Kingdom. In 2008, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":3536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[2240,2238,2246,2244,2242,2239,2236,2241,2234,2235,2245,2237,2247,2243,2233],"motype":[325],"moformat":[18],"moimportance":[30,33],"class_list":{"0":"post-3552","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-engineering-solutions","8":"tag-birmingham-drinking-water","9":"tag-drinking-water","10":"tag-drinking-water-supply","11":"tag-municipal-hydraulics","12":"tag-pipes","13":"tag-pumps","14":"tag-technical-solutions","15":"tag-wastewater","16":"tag-water","17":"tag-water-intakes","18":"tag-water-stations","19":"tag-water-supply","20":"tag-water-treatment","21":"tag-water-treatment-plant","22":"tag-water-utilities","23":"motype-eternal","24":"moformat-vlasna","25":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","26":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/319"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3565,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3552\/revisions\/3565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3552"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3552"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3552"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}