| About
Alton Water |
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Alton Water was
created in the 1970’s and 80’s to supply drinking water
to the people of South Suffolk including Ipswich, Felixstowe and Stowmarket.
It was formed by constructing a man-made dam, across a natural valley,
using locally available clay. The water supply was obtained by pumping
water from the River Gipping some 4 miles away. Due to a limited availability
this pumping primarily occurred over the winter period. The surrounding land needed no work to hold the water supplied and it wasn’t long before an expanse of open water was created over the 390 acre site in this area of outstanding natural beauty. |
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| Alton Water is owned and managed by Anglian Water and they not only utilize this as a source of drinking water but are responsible for ensuring that this wonderful facility is made fully available to the local community. To this end a policy of open access is followed and a range of quiet recreational activities are encouraged. In addition there has always been a strong desire to maintain and enhance the wildlife value of the site. A continuous investment programme has enabled a range of wildlife initiatives to be developed. The benefits from this investment have been maximized by the enthusiastic efforts over the years of the Alton Water Volunteers. This dedicated group have played a critical role in monitoring the area and undergoing a range of habitat management tasks. This web site is a tribute to their efforts and is designed as a window to display the wildlife of Alton Water. | |||||
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