In the past, the Maumee River served as the sole water supply for the City of Defiance. Water was pumped directly from the river to the treatment plant. Because of the susceptibility of the river to contamination from agricultural runoff, organic matter, and accidental chemical discharges, the City completed construction of our reservoir in 2008. During normal operation, water is pumped from the river to the reservoir and gravity flows back to the treatment plant. The reservoir acts as a pre-treatment basin to provide a more consistent water quality to the treatment plant. When the water quality in the Maumee River is less than desirable, the river pumps are shut off and the plant continues to pull from the reservoir. This protects the raw water source for the plant. It is estimated that the reservoir could supply the City for up to 90 days without additional pumping from the river. The reservoir will also allow maintenance to be performed on the river intake structures and associated equipment and pumps without affecting the operation of the water plant.
The reservoir is located along Canal Road on the west side of Defiance. The reservoir contains approximately 350 million gallons of water with a total water surface area of 74 acres. The average depth of the reservoir is 18 feet. The perimeter of the upper bank of the reservoir is approximately 1.6 miles. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has stocked the reservoir with:
- Bluegill
- Channel Catfish
- Large Mouth Bass
- Saugeye
- Walleye
- Yellow Perch
A boat ramp allows access to the reservoir for fishing, however, no gasoline motors are allowed on the reservoir.
For information on reservoir trails and disc golf course, visit our Parks and Recreation page.