Mosvatnet


Mosvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Stavanger in Rogaland county, Norway. The lake lies just west of the city centre of Stavanger in the Eiganes og Våland borough. At, it is the third largest lake in Stavanger after Hålandsvatnet and Store Stokkavatn. The lake reaches a maximum depth of and it lies at an elevation of above sea level. The lake flows out through a small stream that runs through underground culverts to the lake Breiavatnet before emptying into the nearby Byfjorden.

Reservoir

Mosvatnet was Stavanger's water source between 1863 and 1931. The Great Fire of Holmen in Stavanger in 1860 showed that the city had a weak water supply. In 1863, the city initiated the building of a new waterworks at Mosvatnet that both would give residents proper drinking water and better access to water for fire crews. A pump house was erected and water pipes were laid along the road Madlaveien. The water level of the pond was increased significantly, and several small islets and rocks disappeared. The city took over several properties along the lake to prevent contamination of drinking water source and it make the surrounding areas into parkland. After a short time it was realized that Mosvatnet did not have enough capacity to supply the growing city with drinking water for the long term. In 1903, the city of Stavanger bought water rights for the lake Store Stokkavatn and in 1930 that lake became the city's new water reservoir.