OPG set to renew earth dam near Arnprior Generating Station

OPG is set to begin construction work to shore up an existing earth dam near the Arnprior Generating Station (GS) just west of Ottawa in eastern Ontario. The station is an important source of carbon-free power.

The Waba Dam Renewal Project will involve raising and reinforcing the crest of the 1,219-metre-long Waba Dam to ensure the continued safety of the public. The project will also see a culvert replaced in a small area alongside the nearby Ottawa Valley Rail Trail.

Construction is set to begin this summer and is expected to continue until the end of the year.

The 15-metre-tall dam was built to support the reservoir at Arnprior GS, which went into service in 1976. Over the years, the dam has settled due to normally expected ground compression. The crest of the dam now needs to be raised in order to return it to its original design and ensure that OPG meets all respective dam safety requirements, said Project Leader Luigi Perra.

“The project is taking into consideration expected future settlements so that the dam can have a minimum expected service life of 50 years before future raising may be required,” said Perra.

Design work for the raised dam, which was completed by engineering firm Hatch, meets all regulatory and OPG Dam Safety criteria, Perra added.

OPG will be making every effort to limit construction to regular business hours to avoid disruption to nearby residents.