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Keeping the canals full


Britain’s canals and rivers are enjoyed by millions of people each year who each find their own way of enjoying the waterway network. Whether they use the towpaths to cycle along, use the navigations to cruise along or simply to stroll along and spot the wildlife there’s something central to everyone’s experience and enjoyment of the waterways – water.

However, the fact that our canals are full of water is not an act of god and keeping our 200 year-old canal system full requires careful management and planning.

The waterways are now home to a greater number of boats than there were during the industrial revolution. In the warmer summer months, increased use of the waterway system partnered with evaporation, less rain and increased water uptake from plants means that managing the available water resource becomes far trickier. In particularly dry years, like the one we had in 2011, these problems can continue all year round.

View the articles below for more information about the state of our reservoirs, how British Waterways maintains water levels and what you can do to help save water.

Take a look at the latest reservoir holding figures from British Waterways.




John Lobley is a seasonal lock keeper on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Read John’s guide to how you can help save water while you’re boating.




British Waterways' water management team answers some of the most common questions from canal users.



Find out how British Waterways keeps water levels under control



Ask the experts

If you want to put a question about water resources to the British Waterways hydrology team, post it below and over the coming weeks we’ll ask the in-house experts and let you know the answers.

Last updated: 01/02/2012

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