Barrage in Włocławek

Abstract

The barrage (SW) in Włocławek was designed as one of eight barrages in the Lower Vistula Cascade, located at 674.85 km of the river. It was designed and built entirely by Polish companies. Only turbines were manufactured by the Soviets. The next barrage (in Ciechocinek) has not been constructed, high damming waters passing through the barrage have eroded the bottom at the lower position, whereas the power plant, which has been in peak operation for many years, also contributed to accelerated erosion of the river bed below the barrage, to a reduction of the bottom levels of the river, and, as a consequence, also to a reduction of low water level. Subsequent decisions on water management permits have banned operation of the plant at varying levels of upper water as prevention against the destructive influence of peak operation of the plant by making the conditions for further operation of the barrage stricter. The most significant effects of the 43-year plus operation of Włocławek Barrage, the first in the uncompleted cascade, should include the following: erosion and reduction of water level at the lower position, loosening of the body of the earth dam and the bottom of the weir, damage to concrete structures, damage to steel structures or accumulation of load in Włocławek Reservoir. In the first period of operation of both the barrage and the power plant no major failures were observed, and the operation was smooth, excluding the year 1982, when a powerful ice jamming near Płock contributed to flooding. This also meant quite low costs of barrage operation. The last fifteen years has been a period of increased failure rate of barrage structures and equipment due to a long period of operation, resulting in necessary repairs and modernisation. It has also been a period of increased expenditure.