Norton Dam
The Norton Dam (also sometimes called the Norton Bridge Dam) is the gravity dam built across the Kehelgamu Oya, which is a main tributary to the Kelani River. The dam is built at Norton Bridge, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.[1]
| Norton Dam | |
|---|---|
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  Location of Norton Dam in Sri Lanka | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Location | Norton Bridge, Central Province |
| Coordinates | 06°54′50″N 80°31′18″E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1924 |
| Opening date | December 1950 |
| Owner(s) | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Kehelgamu Oya |
| Length | 103 m (338 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 873 m (2,864 ft) MASL |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Norton Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 390,000 m3 (14,000,000 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 19.4 km2 (7.5 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 0.15 km2 (0.058 sq mi) |
| Maximum length | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Maximum width | 280 m (920 ft) |
| Old Laxapana Power Station | |
| Coordinates | 06°55′07″N 80°29′30″E |
| Operator(s) | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| Type | Conventional |
| Turbines | 3 × 8.33 MW 2 × 12.50 MW |
| Installed capacity | 50 MW |
Reservoir and power station
The dam creates the relatively small Norton Reservoir, which is sustained by water from the Kehelgamu Oya, and water discharged from the Wimalasurendra Hydroelectric Power Station, which is located at the upstream side of the reservoir. The Wimalasurendra Power Station or the Norton Bridge Power station is fed from the reservoir at Castles Reigh about 2000 feet above the Norton Reservoir.[1]
Water from the Norton Reservoir is further channelled through a Tunnel through the rock strata and then by a couple of steel pipes penstock to the Old Laxapana Hydroelectric Power Station, located 3.8 km (2.4 mi) downstream at 06°55′07″N 80°29′30″E, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) northwest of Kiriwan Eliya. The power station consists of five hydroelectric generators, three of which are rated at 8.33 MW, and two of which are 12.50 MW. The first three and last two units were commissioned in December 1950 and December 1958, respectively.[1][2]
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References
- "CEB Hydropower Generation". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- "CEB Generation Details: Laxapana Complex". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.