Work has been completed to restore part of the Nant Gain river in Cilcain. The £2 million restoration project was completed ahead of schedule by the not-for-profit water company, Welsh Water.

Located at the eastern foothills of the Clwydians in Flintshire, part of the Nant Gain river, just outside the village of Cilcain, was used to create a reservoir by the construction of two dams at the end of the nineteenth century to supply drinking water to the local area.

However, with homes and businesses in the area now supplied by the Alwen reservoir, Welsh Water have carried out work to remove the dams and restore the area to its original natural landscape.

The work, which took just under 8 months to complete, was carried out by contractors, Envolve along with a number of specialist teams to ensure the area was returned as closely as possible to how it was before the dams were built.

Tudur Ellis, Welsh Water Project Manager said:

“The restoration process involved removing both of the dam structures at the reservoirs and creating a new channel for the riverbed. This new channel will allow the river to flow along its natural course, replicating how it would have been before the dams were built. Restoring the natural river course will bring with it many benefits including reinstating the natural fish passage as well as help to restore and improve the ecology of the area.

“Due to changes to reservoir safety legislation, keeping the reservoirs as they were previously was not an option as they required significant investment and major construction work to bring them up to current regulations. By restoring the natural landscape biodiversity in the area will be enhanced and the site will once again blend into the natural landscape of the area.”