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This drought applied generally for England and Wales for the twenty-one months ended July 31st, 1934, when there was a deficiency of 12 ½ inches ; this deficiency is the greatest on record for any period of twenty-one consecutive months. Further the sunshine and heat of the summer months of 1933 and 1934 increased evaporation to well above the normal for May to October for each of these years. On the 10th July, 1934, the water in storage in the reservoirs was reduced to 623,000,000 gallons, the lowest record for our reservoirs. To cope with this deficiency, a special Act was passed “The Water Supplies (Exceptional Storage Orders) Act, 1934” to continue in operation until December 31st, 1935. This conferred additional powers on Water Authorities to enable them to extend their sources of supply. An application was made to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company for water to be obtained from the Swellands Reservoir at the head of Butterley Clough. Satisfactory terms were arranged with the Company, and in July the Ministry of Health made an order (The Huddersfield Water Order, 1934) authorizing the supply, and 40,648,000 gallons was liberated down Butterley Clough to Butterley Reservoir during this drought period. Application was made to the Minister of Health in July, 1934, to modify the obligations to which the Corporation are subject as respects the discharge of compensation water from Blackmoorfoot, Deerhill, Butterley, and Deanhead Reservoirs. An estimate was made of the quantity of water required by the Corporation for the purpose of carrying out their powers and duties in regard to the supply of water for a period of forty-five days such requirements being based upon the average daily quantity supplied by the Corporation during the month of June, 1934. That if and when the level of water for the time being in any of these reservoirs is reduced to or below the level specified in the following table obligations of the Corporation in regard to the discharge of compensation water from that reservoir shall be entirely suspended:
As shown above, none of these reservoirs reached so low a level during this extreme drought period. To relieve the difficulty at the higher levels of supply during these drought periods, a nine inch pipe was laid in 1928 from Blakeley Reservoir (848 ft) to the catchwater feeding Deerhill Reservoir (1,145 ft) and through this pipe water is pumped when required. For this purpose three engines are used (See Figure 51 below)each of fifty horse power, and are able to pump water at the rate of one million gallons a day ; the lift of the pipe is about three hundred feet. To meet such emergencies, the Blakeley Reservoir is maintained at a high level.
The effect of the drought period in 1934 necessitated a reduction of compensation water to the riparian owners, and on July 31st of that year it was reduced by half-a-million gallons a day, which continued until November 5th when the full amount was restored. Claims were made for loss of trade and extra costs involved, by the millowners of the Meltham, Colne and Calder Valleys, and an award was made amounting to £362 2s. 0d. The drought of 1929, though not so severe, involved the Corporation in a claim by the Meltham Mill Owners’ Association for £82 2s. 4d. In 1935, however, though there was a deficiency during seven months of the year, there were five months of excess rain which increased the average, and that, followed by a rainy year in 1936, restored the reservoirs to their normal capacity. The year 1937 was another dry year, and steps had to be taken to supplement the reservoir at Deerhill by pumping from Blakeley. During the drought period of 1934, the following quantity of water was obtained from the shafts and bore-holes:-
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