Manchester Ship Canal Company Water Level Control - Operational Protocol
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Transportation Peel Holdings January 2011 Manchester Ship Canal Company Water Level Control - Operational Protocol Private and Confidential Prepared by: ............................................................. Checked by: ........................................................................ David Stork Roy Lobley Associate Director Associate Director Approved by: David Stork Associate Director Manchester Ship Canal Company Water Level Control - Operational Protocol 3rd Floor, 8 Princes Parade, Princes Dock, Liverpool, L3 1QH Telephone: 0151 331 8900 Website: http://www.aecom.com Job No 60144094 Reference 60144094/REPORT/001 Date Created January 2011 This document is confidential and the copyright of AECOM Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. Table of Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Overview of the Manchester Ship Canal Water Level Control Structures .................................................................... 4 2.1 The Water Level Control Structures from West to East ......................................................................................... 4 3 Detailed Description of the Water Level Control Structures ....................................................................................... 10 3.1 Overall Description of the Sluices ........................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Upper Reaches Sluices ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 Weaver Sluices .................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.4 Gate Description .................................................................................................................................................. 10 3.5 Operating Machinery ........................................................................................................................................... 11 3.6 Control System .................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.7 Control System Communications......................................................................................................................... 13 3.8 Other Water Level Control Structures .................................................................................................................. 13 4 Description of Normal Water Level Control .................................................................................................................. 16 4.1 Water Level ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Sluice Gate Control .............................................................................................................................................. 16 4.3 Effect of Tidal Conditions ..................................................................................................................................... 17 5 Description of Operational Control During High Water Flows .................................................................................... 19 5.1 Monitoring for High Water Flows ......................................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Environment Agency Flood Warning Procedure .................................................................................................. 19 5.3 Procedure in the Event of Anticipated High Water Flows .................................................................................... 20 5.4 Resources available ............................................................................................................................................ 21 5.5 Communication .................................................................................................................................................... 21 5.6 Training ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 5.7 Testing of Backup Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 21 6 Routine Maintenance and Major Maintenance/Capital Renewal Programme ............................................................ 23 6.1 Routine Maintenance ........................................................................................................................................... 23 6.2 Major Maintenance .............................................................................................................................................. 24 6.3 Capital Renewal Programme ............................................................................................................................... 24 7 Reliability of Sluice Operation ....................................................................................................................................... 26 7.1 Reliability Analysis ............................................................................................................................................... 26 7.2 Blockage of sluices and weirs by debris .............................................................................................................. 27 8 Working Arrangements ................................................................................................................................................... 29 AECOM 1 Introduction AECOM 2 1 Introduction The purpose of this document is to provide a robust operational protocol which recognises the close working relationship between the Environment Agency and the Manchester Ship Canal Company (MSCC) as it affects the control of water levels in the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC). The MSCC is part of Peel Ports (Peel). It is the responsibility of the MSCC, to control the water levels in the Canal. The following is a brief description of the powers under which the Canal operates. The Manchester Ship Canal was authorised in 1885 under the Manchester Ship Canal Act 1885 (the 1885 Act). This gave MSCC various powers to build, manage and operate the Canal. Once constructed, the Canal facilitated navigation from the River Mersey to Manchester. Subsequent Private Acts of Parliament were promoted to authorise new construction along the Canal and to regulate its operation. However, the main provisions relevant to the upper part of the Canal are set out in the 1885 Act. The 1885 Act provided, amongst other things, for the Company to be granted powers to work weirs, sluices, machinery, appliances and apparatus. Section 17 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1873 applies to the Company. This provision requires “every railway company owning or having the management of a canal to keep it at all times such canal and the works belonging thereto thoroughly repaired and dredged and in good working condition so that it may be at all times open to navigation for the use of all persons desirous to use and navigate the same”. The Company remains bound by this requirement as a statutory railway company. The Company is therefore required to ensure the Canal is at all times properly maintained. The controlling of the water level is part of this responsibility. Since the MSC was opened there have been many changes in the surrounding environment, especially the growth of Manchester, changes in weather patterns and changes in our understanding of flooding and its causes. The MSCC has successfully controlled the water levels since its opening but it is recognised that there is a need for a wider understanding of this process and how this successful record will be maintained. The sluice control system is used to control the canals water level for navigation purposes and in doing so it is also effective in preventing flooding in the locations surrounding the Canal. Sections 1 to 7 of this document describe the sluices, the risk of failure in a quantifiable form, the maintenance and refurbishment regime in place and MSCC procedures that need to be in place. Section 8 discusses the cooperation that is in place between the Environment Agency and Peel. MSCC is a Professional Partner of the Environment Agency. This will enable all stakeholders to have confidence in and recognise the effectiveness and reliability of the water level control system in providing a flood risk management capability. It will inform flood defence strategies for the land bordering on the Canal. AECOM 2 Overview of the Manchester Ship Canal Water Level Control Structures AECOM 4 2 Overview of the Manchester Ship Canal Water Level Control Structures 2.1 The Water Level Control Structures from West to East The Ship Canal was constructed by canalising the Rivers Irwell and Mersey above Latchford (the Upper Reaches) and by constructing a new water course between Latchford and Eastham (the Lower Reaches). See figure 9 for a schematic of the canal and the location of the various structures. In addition