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Every summer, pleasant weather and warm temperatures draw people to cool rivers and streams. Stream and riverbeds are popular spots for barbecuing, relaxing, and sunbathing. However, if there is a hydropower plant upstream of the recreation area, this can pose a danger.
The operation of hydropower plants can cause what is known as hydropeaking – a sudden increase in the volume of water flowing in a riverbed. For example, if the plant experiences an unexpected power outage, operations are automatically shut down. The water that would normally flow through the penstock to the turbine is then released into the river via the plant’s spillway. This can amount to many times the volume of water that would normally flow in the riverbed. As a result, the water level downstream of the hydropower plant can rise within just a few minutes.
For this reason, bathing or picnicking downstream of a hydropower plant can be dangerous and requires increased vigilance. If the water level begins to rise, leave the riverbed as quickly as possible.