A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
September 14, 2020
WATER EXTRACTION FROM WEST OKEMENT BY NORTH DEVON WATER BOARD (NDWB) ABOVE VELLAKE CORNER
Steve Grigg
Walking downstream from Black-a-Tor copse along the West Okement on a short flattish plain, there is an enclosed walled area which surrounds the river. Within the boundaries of this walled in area, which is almost full of trees , is a weir and a small pond behind it. The entry gate and weir are located on the north end of the enclosure. The gate is securely padlocked and the walls are quite substantial and certainly designed to keep animals and people out. These constructions were for a water intake point for the North Devon Water Board (NDWB). The extracted water was conveyed by gravity-flow via a 12 inch diameter main through to the water treatment works on Prewley Moor. [ref: High Dartmoor p903 – Eric Hemery]