Reservoir to be drained for 'essential' repairs

It is expected the reservoir will be completely empty by mid-September

One of the Isle of Man's four main supply reservoirs is being drained to allow for "essential" refurbishment works, Manx Utilities has confirmed.

During a routine inspection, one of two critical valves at the Clypse Reservoir in Onchan failed to operate, while a separate investigation found a fault in the submerged valving system.

The utility provider said "to ensure continued water supply" and maintain safety both valves and their power sources would have to be replaced, at a cost of £50,000.

A spokeswoman said thanks to the timing of the works, and the "current healthy water stock position", it was thought the project would not "have a material impact on future water supply".

The spokeswoman confirmed the draining process was already under way and was "being carefully managed to protect the structural integrity of the dam and minimise water waste".

Safe access

Clypse Reservoir supplies raw water to the Douglas water treatment works, and onward to consumers in the east and south of the island.

The firm said it was anticipated it would be fully empty by mid-September, with works expected to take a fortnight.

As the valves are underwater, full drainage is required to allow for safe access by engineers and a specialist contractor, according to Manx Utilities.

Refilling the reservoir is expected to take several months and would be dependent on seasonal weather conditions throughout autumn and winter, a spokeswoman has confirmed.

The reservoir may have to be partially closed for the duration of the works with updates would provided at a later date, she added.