Privately owned reservoirs are generally built for amenity (they look nice), for fishing or for irrigation. Reservoirs are subject to planning regulations, and as soon as the capacity above ground level exceeds 25,000m3, they are subject to the Reservoirs Act.

Reservoirs can be either an asset or a headache, depending on the planning and execution of the construction.

The photographs are of the reservoir at Rockells farm, near Saffron Walden designed by the MD of Fenland Hydrotech some 25 years ago. Originally constructed for irrigation, it provides a beautiful setting for both wildlife and fishing.

A lake with a hole?

Irrigation
Irrigation reservoirs are becoming more common. If a crop has insufficient water, even briefly, it may suffer drought stress. It will not recover from this, and the crop may well be worthless. The reservoir is an insurance against a dry summer, or may permit the growing of crops which would not be viable with only natural rainfall. The necessary pipework and pumping can be major costs in addition to the reservoir construction

Abstraction licences also cost less in winter. The reservoir can provide a wildlife habitat or fishing, as in the case of Rockells Farm.