Piper Boat Owners' Club

A club open to anyone who owns a Piper-built boat

 

March Photo News Page

 

Photos and text by Michael Minifie Updated March 2010

Autumn 2009 and BW drained the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct for

inspection and maintenance.


 

A press release announced that the 'plug' would be pulled by a local schoolboy at 1.30; and not long after then it was:

"Is that it?" exclaimed the assembled onlookers as a trickle of water dribbled out.

To fully release the 'plug', which is well puddled in, takes two strong men.

I decided to also get a shot of the aqueduct as it was draining but was surprised to find no stop planks at the Fron end!

The team had been delayed at Ellesmere getting a boat into the dry dock, and because

 of the photo call just pulled the plug.

The flow had been gradually reduced from 12 million gallons a day to 3 million.

Once the planks were in place it took another two days for the planks to swell enough to make a good seal.

To maintain the flow, a supply for mid Cheshire, water was pumped up from the  pumping station by the Dee.

Eventually the level dropped enough for the inspection to commence.

It will be 10 years before another scheduled draining will take place.


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Page created 4th April 2005, last updated 01 March 2010