News
Water levels in reservoirs recede, reducing hydro power capacity
By Nalaka Rathnayaka
The water levels of Castlereagh and Maussakele Reservoirs are receding due to dry weather on the Western slope of the central highlands, engineers claim.
The spill level of the Castlereagh Reservoir is 155 feet and by Wednesday night, the water level dropped to 144.2 feet. The spill level of the Maussakele Reservoir is 120 feet and by Wednesday night, the water level dropped to 85.9 feet. The Canyon has been closed for five days due to a technical issue.
However, Laxapana, new Laxapana, Polpitiya and Wimalasurendra Hydro Power Stations are operating at full capacity.
With water levels dropping, the country will increasingly depend on coal and diesel power plants, engineers say.
” The coming months will be dry and they will be ideal for solar power generation. Since we depend on fossil fuels, we are now facing shortages of power,” a senior engineer said.