Water for a city

~ an issue for debate in Victorian Birmingham

Book, photos and leaflet available to review or download below

How does a city best meet its water needs? "This is a question that is as relevant today [in 1999] in Birmingham as it was one hundred years earlier. As towns and cities are expanding globally, there is a need to learn from the past if we are to plan for a sustainable future."

The water crisis that Birmingham faced at the end of the nineteenth century provides a fascinating local case-study of the social, economic, environmental and political debates at that time. The Council's controversial decision to bring water from Wales was a far-sighted one ... but there were issues .. it had its costs .

Water for a city explores the debates at the heart of this local case-study, and relate the subject matter to our own lives today. It draws upon a wide range of historical sources and uses a range of classroom activities to enable students to debate the key issues and draw their own conclusions. The ideas and approaches contain a strong 'citizenship' dimension, as they aim to develop students' skills of participation and decision-making.

There are five sections, each focused on a key question:

• Why did Birmingham need a new water supply?

• Why did Birmingham choose the Elan Valley to supply its water?

• What problems did the planners face, and how were they solved?

• What were the consequences of the Elan Valley development?

• What can we learn from the Elan Valley development today?