The Waterpower industry is one of those rare industries that smiles suring rainy days like today. In honour of this rainy day, here is some #WheresWilly trivia: Did you know that there are over 3000 dams in Ontario but just over 200 of them have a currently used to generate electricity?
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On Friday, our #WheresWilly team took a break from the sites and sat down with some dam owners and operators to discuss the importance of rehabilitation of aging dams, preventative maintenance, and monitoring. Too often waterpower generators get tunnel vision, focusing on the mechanical and electrical systems when it comes to budgeting for upgrades. This is understandable given their direct correlation to the financial bottom line. However, neglecting the structural elements of a facility can add up to huge repair bills and possible downtime if deterioration is left unchecked for too long. During our road trip this summer, we have seen many dams that are in desperate need of some attention. MKE and its WheresWilly team cannot stress enough the...
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Aging Ontario Hydraulic Structures Need Some TLC Dams and Hydraulic Structures are often the forgotten "wall flowers" of a typical waterpower facility during budget time compared to their more "sexy" cousins the mechanical and electrical systems. However, the fact remains, the vast majority of Ontario's hydraulic infrastructure was built more than 60 years ago, and many are over 100 years old. While these structures were robustly designed, it is doubtful the original designers expected them to still be around in 2017 without systematic maintenance programs. Unfortunately, these programs have been somewhat lacking for many structures over the last few decades. Ontario's hydraulic structures are asked to withstand not only their loading, but the wide range of weather experienced in...
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Heavy Civil Structures: Given their robust nature, it is easy for private owners of hydraulic structures / dams and waterpower facilities to ignore, or at least minimize the preventative maintenance effort and cost for these structures, especially if there are more pressing budget concerns relating to mechanical or electrical elements. However, concrete hydraulic structures in Ontario are exposed to very severe conditions and experience continued, degenerative deterioration over their lifespan. If this deterioration is not addressed, it can quickly lead to: safety issues for staff and the public, regulatory issues with respect to non-compliant environmental practices, water infiltration through the structure that can expedite deterioration, larger, more expensive repairs, forced shut downs of the facility to accommodate larger repairs. Identifying the...
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