"Every time a boat passes through a canal lock, thousands of litres of water are released and must be replaced, usually from other sources. To reduce water loss, engineers sometimes build side ponds next to canals with several locks in succession. These side ponds allowed water to be "put aside" rather than lost. When a lock chamber was emptied to lower a boat to the next level, paddles were opened to divert the water into an adjacent side pond."
"Over the following two centuries, when water scarcity was rarely a pressing concern, the side ponds fell out of use and slowly silted up. In modern times, with increasing water scarcity and droughts, the Canal & River Trust, which manages the canals, increasingly needs to conserve water from being wasted. As a result, they are restoring the side ponds next to the Hanwell Flight of Locks in west London."
A series of 210-year-old reservoirs next to the Grand Junction Canal in west London are being dredged and repaired after falling out of use. Side ponds adjacent to locks stored water released during lock operation so it could be reused, reducing demand on canal supplies. Over two centuries the side ponds silted up as water scarcity was rarely a concern. With modern droughts, the Canal & River Trust is restoring side ponds beside the Hanwell Flight of Locks. Work is supported by Historic England's regional Heritage at Risk grant and the Inland Waterways Association, but not intended to return the ponds to full working use without further funding; the project could inform future water-conservation schemes.
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