Llyn Brianne Dam
River Towy, Ceredigion, Wales, UK · 1968-1972 (construction completed 1972)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe dam was built to satisfy the increasing water demands of heavy industry in and around Swansea. - The reservoir's capacity has been increased since its initial construction in 1973, and a hydro-electric power generation component was added. - The project is a significant example of large-scale water resource management in the UK.
Key engineering challenges
Constructing the highest dam in the UK in a remote Welsh valley. - Regulating the flow of the River Towy to meet industrial and public water demands. - Managing the environmental impact of creating a large reservoir.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Originally built for the growing demands of industry in Swansea; now Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.
- Lead contractor
- George Wimpey & Co Ltd.
- Lead designers
- Binnie & Partners (Consulting Engineers).
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Highest dam in the UK (91m or 300ft high); holds 64 million cubic metres of water; three turbines generate around 4.3MW.
- Disciplines
- civil; geotechnical; hydraulic; electrical
- Standards & frameworks
- Relevant UK dam construction and water supply regulations of the era.
Sources: "Llyn Brianne", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llyn_Brianne - "Llyn Brianne: The reservoir with a strange history!", Abergavenny Chronicle, 2024, https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/llyn-brianne-the-reservoir-with-a-strange-history-705384 - "Llyn Brianne Dam", GeoTopoi, 2024, https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2024/11/30/llyn-brianne-dam/ - "Llyn Brianne Reservoir & Dam - Llandovery", Visit Mid Wales, https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/things-to-do/llyn-brianne-reservoir-and-dam-p1735481