The Environment Agency will close the Thames Barrier this Sunday as part of annual testing - the Barrier is operated over a full tidal cycle for test purposes once a year.
Built across a 520 metre stretch of the river, the Thames Barrier has 10 gates including 4 large rising sector gates each spanning 61 metres and weighing 3,700 tonnes.
When the gates have been raised 90 degrees, the Thames Barrier is fully closed in the defence position stopping the tide going into London. As the tide continues to come in, a higher level of water will build up downstream of the barrier creating a differential in water level on either side of the gates.
Shortly after high water or high tide, the gates will be further rotated by 28 degrees (or roughly 2 metres) into what is called the ‘underspill’ position.
Underspill allows the higher downstream water level of the river to rush through underneath the gates to shorten the amount of time it takes for the upstream and downstream water levels to equal. It also creates a white rush effect of water behind each of the gates, attracting many birds which come to feed on the small fish interested in the white rush water and the food it provides. The underspill continues for approximately 2 hours.
The closure is an Open Day which offers visitors a unique opportunity and insight to see how London remains operational as a modern city - some of the Thames Barrier Teams with displays explaining what they do will be on hand during the day. The Thames Barrier will begin to close at 6.30am and the gates rise into position.
Approximate timing for the underspill is 1.45pm and at 4:30pm the Thames Barrier gates will be lowered – all the times are subject to change due to the tides.
Waterbriefing is media partner with the major Environment Agency Flood and Coast 2016 conference and exhibition in Telford from 23rd-25th February 2016. Click here for more information
Near-real-time microbial monitoring of wastewater discharge and bathing waters is now possible thanks to the BactoSense ID solution created by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies.
ABB has launched AquaMaster+™, a digital platform for smart water network management, designed to help water utilities monitor, analyze and manage their water networks, preventing pipeline water losses and optimizing operations.
Craig Nienaber, Business Development Manager for Safe Access Solutions (SAS) at HUBER Technology, explores why the company is seeing a growing level of interest in its safe access solutions for critical infrastructure providers, including their application in wastewater treatment assets.
Albion Water, the first NAV (New Appointment & Variation) to have been established in1999 and now under the ownership of SDS Water Group, has appointed Andy Holland as its new Director of Business Development.
Southern Water has released film and images showing what it’s like to walk inside Hampshire’s expanded Yew Hill underground reservoir for the very last time, before it gets filled with water.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.