Dowdeswell Reservoir

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Dowdeswell Reservior and water treatment works were originally built to supply the town of Cheltenham with drinking water. Built originally by Cheltenham Corporation it became part of the Severn Trent network.

To save money Severn Trent closed the water treatment works, and the lake itself became a flood storage reservoir in an attempt to protect the town of Cheltenham from flooding. Unfortunately this is only a small part of the River Chelt, with many more tributaries joining further downstream, So whilst it holds the water from the upper stage of the River Chelt, it doesn't hold water from all the tributaries, hence Cheltenham being able to be flooded in July 2007.