[1] The Rivington chain primarily supplies 70,000 households in the Wigan area.

The engineer for the Rivington reservoirs was Thomas Hawksley and construction for the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks took place between 1852 and 1857.

Filter beds were constructed at the foot of the Horwich Embankment, The original sand filters were replaced by a new treatment plant from where a pipeline runs to the service reservoirs at Eccleston, St Helens.

The River Douglas was diverted through a paved channel in a deep cutting into Lower Rivington.

[1] On the Rivington bank of the reservoir is a folly which is a replica of Liverpool Castle, and to the south-west is the Headless Cross at Grimeford Village.