Investor Relations | Customers & Suppliers | Employees/Pensioners | Careers Home | FAQ | Contact Us

About OPGPower GenerationSafety & EnvironmentIn The CommunityLearning ZoneNews Room






Water Safety



Stay Clear, Stay Safe
The safety of the public and our staff is Ontario Power Generation's number one priority. Ontario Power Generation operates 35 hydroelectric stations, a green power portfolio of 29 small hydroelectric plants, and 240 dams on 26 river systems. Most of these facilities are remotely controlled. As demand for electricity rises and falls throughout each day, operators stationed many kilometres away open and close dams, and start and stop generating units as needed. This results in frequent and rapid changes in water levels and flows around our facilities - changes that can affect your safety.

A spot that looks calm and safe one moment can become dangerous within a few seconds as water levels and flows change, often without warning. Calm waters or a dry riverbed could change quickly into one with rapidly moving, dangerous waters.

For your own safety near a hydroelectric dam or station, make sure that you:

  • Obey all warning signs, fences, buoys, booms and barriers. They are put there to protect you. The areas inside are dangerous, stay clear of them.
  • Stay a safe distance outside of warning signs, buoys, booms and barriers when fishing, boating or swimming.
  • Stay well back from the edge of waters above and below hydroelectric dams and stations.
  • Never stand below a dam, or anchor or tie your boat there. Rapidly changing water levels and flows can take you by surprise and could swamp your boat or put you in the grip of an undertow.

Please take a few moments to review our Stay Clear, Stay Safe brochure, which describes the safety precautions you need to take when near hydroelectric stations and dams. You can also order a free copy of our new water safety DVD. A new children's interactive CD ROM on water safety is also now available. To order the free video or CD ROM email your mailing address to watersafety@opg.com.


Water Safety Poster


Download our Water Safety poster.


Stay Clear, Stay Safe


Download our Water Safety brochure for more information on safety around dams and hydro stations.