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West Branch

Located in Putnam County in the Towns of Kent and Carmel, approximately 35 miles from New York City. Formed by the damming of the West Branch of the Croton River, which continues south to the Croton Falls Reservoir. Consists of two basins, separated by Route 301. Holds 8 billion gallons at full capacity. Placed into service in 1895 as part of the City's Croton Water Supply System.

Today, however, the West Branch functions primarily as part of the Delaware Water Supply System, serving as a supplementary settling basin for the water which arrives from the Rondout Reservoir, west of the Hudson River, via the Delaware Aqueduct. The West Branch Reservoir also receives water from its own small watershed and the Boyds Corner Reservoir. In addition, the West Branch is connected to adjacent Lake Gleneida, one of the three controlled lakes that are part of the City's water supply. Another function of the West Branch Reservoir is to receive water pumped in from the Hudson River during drought periods. This water enters the West Branch from the City's Chelsea Pumping Station in Dutchess County, 65 miles up the Hudson from New York City. The West Branch was used very briefly for this purpose during May of 1989 and during the 1965-66 and 1985 droughts. Water withdrawn from the West Branch ordinarily flows via the Delaware Aqueduct into the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County for further settling. There it mixes with Catskill system water before entering aqueducts that carry it to the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers, at the City's northern boundary, where it enters the water supply distribution system.

The West Branch watershed's drainage basin is 20 square miles, and includes portions of the Towns of Kent and Carmel.