Jersey Water has announced a major project which will take place at Val de la Mare Reservoir in late summer 2011.
The Company is going to be installing a water tight ‘membrane’ on the reservoir side of the dam, which will both prolong the life of the dam itself and prepare for any future extension works which may be needed. The work, to be undertaken by specialist contractors, is planned to start at the end of July and last about eight weeks.
Since the Val de la Mare dam was first built 60 years ago, work has regularly been done to maintain its safe condition. Advances in dam maintenance and protection technologies have meant that these types of plastic membrane are now commonplace in dams all over the world. The dam, like many structures of its time, has been subject to the effects of AAR (‘Alkali Aggregate Reaction’), a very slow chemical reaction which occurs with some types of concrete. The membrane will reduce the effect of the AAR, so prolonging its life indefinitely.
The project will also form a key part of ensuring the long-term performance of the dam before any extension works may be necessary in the future, as the demands for water resources in the Island increase.
In order for the work to take place, the reservoir will be emptied to enable access to the water side of the dam. During that time there will need to be restricted access to the public walking routes. Once the work has been completed, the reservoir will be re-filled both from other water catchment areas and from the winter rainfall.
Commenting, Managing Director and Engineer, Howard Snowden, said
“This is an important project both for the existing dam and also as a vital part of the preliminary plans prior to any possible future extension of the reservoir. We hope, due to our Universal Metering Programme and changes in peoples’ behaviour to water usage, to be able to put off the final extension of the reservoir for a number of years. Nevertheless, this work is still necessary now as part of safeguarding the dam’s future. The project is included within the Company’s capital expenditure programme so we do not expect this one-off cost to have any effect on water charges.
“We shall also be keeping users of the walkways informed of how the access to the paths will change during the period that the work will be taking place. We thank everybody for their patience in advance”.
Notices of the detail of the work will be published on this website nearer the time, as well as notices at Val de la Mare and other public information as required.
For further information, please contact:
Howard Snowden
Managing Director & Engineer
T: 707300