The test release of water into the Hope Canal from the East Coast Demerara Conservancy (EDWC) is proceeding smoothly thus far according to Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
GINA reported that the release of water began at 06:00 hrs today and was facilitated by workers cutting the embankment of the EDWC, near the Head Regulator to allow the flow of water into the northern relief channel at the Hope Dochfour Outfall.
GINA said that the test release was essential to ensure that the integrity of the Hope Canal’s earthen dams was not compromised under the pressure of the water contained.
“We will continue to monitor the embankments to see if there is any significant settlement or seepage,” Wordsworth said.
He explained that the level of the Hope Canal is currently at 56 GD and once this level has stabilised, it will be raised to 57 GD.
This afternoon, the water contained in the Hope Canal will be released via the eight -door sluice, a major component, into the Atlantic Ocean.
The operation became necessary due to the high water level in the EDWC from heavy rain and to safeguard the structural integrity of the conservancy’s earthen embankments.
The Agriculture Ministry had stated yesterday that the EDWC water levels were 58.25 GD at Flagstaff, 57.70 GD at Lama and 54.85 GD at Land of Canaan which was above the full supply level of 57.50 GD. The height of the Conservancy Dam is 59 GD.
The release is the first official test of the $3.6 billion Hope Canal project.