Update by Kevin Packard
Hi.
Work on site has managed to progress rapidly despite the current Covid-19 pandemic. Our partners IWS have implemented many changes to site working practices in order to work safely and have coped well with both the physical restrictions imposed and indeed with the difficulties of finding good and safe local accommodation to enable a full working week.
We are now running the site completely on our new high voltage (HV) system components having finally dispensed with our old supply feed during a pre-arranged power outage with UK Power Networks on 18th May. This now allows us to remove all the old power equipment located in the pumping station basement which was never the best location in a building next to a river that is known to flood!
Not that there is very much water to extract at the moment (with May looking likely to be the driest ever on record), but we are currently running on the first 2 of our newly installed pumps. The remainder of the station has been drained down and by the end of this week, the last 2 of the five old pumps will have been removed. These were the "new ones", having only been there since 1952 so they haven't done too bad! Once all the old cabling and ancilliary equipment has been removed, we will be shortly commencing the second 2 brand new pumps and working towards getting these commissioned and put into service.
Additionally, we will be making preparations for the new bandscreen at the actual river intake. The old screens have to be replaced not just due to their age & condition but to conform to The Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, something we are legally bound to comply with. The screens are similar in operation to the existing rotating ones but have a finer mesh to prevent accidental extraction of eels and elvers which are now a protected species.
As usual, if you have any queries or questions, please contact me via this portal.
Enjoy the warm weather and stay safe.
Kevin
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