Baihetan dam puts deep discharging tunnels into operation

Baihetan hydropower plant, owned and operated by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), announced that it has put all of the seven deep discharging tunnels into operation on May 1 after the No.6 bottom diversion outlet, the last one, successfully lowered its sluice, putting the dam on track to reach the goal of impoundment and power generation.

"Baihetan dam's deep discharging tunnels have begun discharging water, putting an end to the operation of the temporary discharging facility while making a transition to the permanent flood discharging system," said an official with the department of engineering and construction of the Baihetan project.

Baihetan hydropower station is a 300-meter tall double-curvature arch dam. The three-layer dam has 6 diversion outlets, 7 deep discharging tunnels and 6 surface discharging tunnels from bottom up.

The bottom diversion outlet is the temporary discharging channel used when the sluice of the diversion tunnel is closed. According to the plan of impoundment, the sluices of all bottom diversion outlets will be closed while the deep discharging tunnels start discharging water to maintain the ecosystem outflow.