Wawatay Generating Station - Profile

Constructed on the Black River, near Marathon, Ontario, adjacent to a gorge that drops approximately 48 meters.

A “greenfield” development with minimal environmental impact.

It has a capacity to generate 13.5 MW of electricity and has 48 meters of head with a plant flow of 35 cubic meters per second.

The project enhanced fish habitat by creating a spawning / nursery channel

The project was completed in 1992 and all of the electricity is sold under a long term contract to the successor to Ontario Hydro

An intake structure was constructed upstream of the existing control dam to efficiently direct flow to a combined 625 meter tunnel and penstock. This consists of a 450 meter unlined hard rock tunnel, 60 meter steel lined tunnel and a 115 meter penstock

A trifurcation in the penstock occurs to convey water to three horizontal Francis turbine / generator sets contained within the powerhouse structure.

The water exits the turbines through a tailrace that was excavated from the river bank to channel water, upon discharge back to the natural river course