Where’s Willy Now? > Elliot Falls Generating Station

Willy and the MKE team visited the Elliot Falls waterpower facility on the Gull River in Kawartha Lakes as part of our 2018 #WheresWilly road trip. This plant was originally built in the early 1900's to power a nearby cement factor, decommissioned in 1928 then redeveloped in 1990 to provide 700 kW of homegrown, green energy to Ontario's power grid. MKE have been retained to complete a structural inspection of the facility and design a comprehensive maintenance and rehabilitation plan. We will also be assisting the new owners, Bracebridge Generation, with the preparation of the required dam documentation for its dam safety program.

Read More

Structural Inspections

Heavy Civil Structures:  Given their robust nature, it is easy for private owners of hydraulic structures / dams and waterpower facilities to ignore, or at least minimize the preventative maintenance effort and cost for these structures, especially if there are more pressing budget concerns relating to mechanical or electrical elements.  However, concrete hydraulic structures in Ontario are exposed to very severe conditions and experience continued, degenerative deterioration over their lifespan.  If this deterioration is not addressed, it can quickly lead to: safety issues for staff and the public, regulatory issues with respect to non-compliant environmental practices, water infiltration through the structure that can expedite deterioration, larger, more expensive repairs, forced shut downs of the facility to accommodate larger repairs. Identifying the...

Read More