Government updates the status of dams in RS – 4/5

The State government monitors, through the Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema), the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and the National System Operator (ONS), the situation of dams in Rio Grande do Sul.

Partial data released this Saturday morning (4/5) indicates that two structures are in an emergency situation, presenting a risk of collapse and response actions are already underway.

Dams monitored by Aneel and ONS

Emergency Level – Risk of imminent rupture, requiring measures to preserve lives:

• UHE 14 de Julho, in Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves (situation unchanged since the partial rupture two days ago)

This morning, the State government allowed technicians from Companhia Energética Rio das Antas (Ceran) access to the dam, to carry out maintenance maneuvers, including the gradual release of water to relieve tension on the embankment – ​​the dam structure that makes water containment.

According to the company, operations began at 11:35 am, with prior information to the population via the company’s institutional channels. The work will be slow and gradual so that there is no change in the level of the Taquari-Antas river.

Alert Level – When anomalies represent a risk to the safety of the dam, requiring measures to maintain safety conditions:

• UHE Dona Francisca, in Nova Palma
• UHE Bugres – Divisa Dam, in Canela

Level of Attention – When anomalies do not compromise the safety of the dam in the short term, but require monitoring, control or repair over time:

• UHE Bugres – Blang Dam, in Canela
• UHE Canastra, in Canela
• UHE Monte Claro, in Bento Gonçalves/Veranópolis
• UHE Castro Alves, in Nova Roma do Sul/Nova Pádua
• PCH Furnas do Segredo, in Jaguari

The other dams classified as “attention situation” on Friday (3/5) left the list published by Aneel.

According to the regulatory agency, all plants in the Uruguay River basin are prepared for an increase in their inflows over the next few hours. There was no communication received regarding changes in the safety levels of the dams in this basin from Friday (3/5) to Saturday (4/5).

Dams monitored by Sema

Emergency Level:

• São Miguel Dam, in Bento Gonçalves – beginning of landslides on the slope. Technicians from Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento (Corsan) assess the situation.

Alert Level:

• Samuara, in Caxias do Sul
• Dal Bó, in Caxias do Sul
• Capané, in Cachoeira do Sul

The Arroio Barracão Dam, in Bento Gonçalves, and the Saturnino de Brito Dam, in São Martinho da Serra, had their emergency declarations closed by Corsan technicians.

The State continues to carefully monitor the Santa Lúcia dams, in Putinga; New from the estate of Aldo Malta Dihl, in Glorinha; Belo Monte, in Eldorado do Sul; and Filhos de Sepé, in Viamão.

_{Text: Ascom Sema
Edition: Secom}