Water resource investigations

BW has to manage water supplies very carefully to ensure the reliability of the system during the busy summer months. An essential part of this work is the gathering of accurate data at key locations and BW will be carrying out planned ‘site trials’ at key locations over the summer and into the autumn to do just this.

You may well see these measurements taking place at various points on the canal network and BW has tried to minimise the affect this will have on boating by restricting navigation as little as possible.

Most investigations have been planned for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays to avoid impacting boating either side of the weekend. Work has been scheduled to start early in the morning (often from 6am) but, to work efficiently, several sites must be measured in one day. Consequently, although most sites will be finished by 11am, some restrictions may be needed until 1pm. In other situations, stoppages will be overnight, using automatic monitoring equipment (so you may not see anyone actually working through the night) but key lock flights need to be closed to improve the accuracy of the trials.

Also during the morning you may not see anyone working at a particular lock which is closed for one of these trials, please understand that each time a lock is filled and/or emptied it creates a ‘surge wave’ of water that moves back and forth along the whole canal pound, even if it is many miles in length. This wave affects the accuracy of flow measurements being taken elsewhere on that canal pound.

Whilst BW understand that these investigations are likely to cause inconvenience, it hopes you will appreciate the longer term aim for the canal system to be more reliable. BW’s technical staff doing the site trials will be happy to explain more about their work if you meet them.

Find more background information about BW’s water resource investigations

For more details on planned water resource investigations see www.waterscape.com/stoppages

Make sure you sign up to receive stoppage alerts from Waterscape to ensure you can plan your cruise with minimal disruption.

via Boaters’ Update June 2010.