Site Records

Nant Power Station - Surge pond

Rising from the end of the low-pressure tunnel fom Loch Nant is the surge chamber; A slope shaft, 140ft long, 14ft in diameter, sloping at 60°, rising to a surge pond on the surface. The surge pond is in the middle of heavily forested hill country, accessed up forestry roads:

The surge pond also receives the discharge from the Fionain aqueduct system, seen here entering the surge pond via a series of 'steps'

At the top of the slope shaft is a sector gate, to close off the flow from the aqueduct from entering the surge shaft, when it is dewatered for maintenance

Beyond the sector gate, the top of the shaft is guarded by screens.

Looking through the screen bars, the Fionain water falls a short distance; the foam is the top of the water column in the surge shaft.

A couple of hundred yards down the hill from the surge pond is the adit. This was the main constuction adit for the shafts and tunnels, and is still used for access and inspection when the system is dewatered. It will enter the system somwhere in the region of the bottom of the surge shaft.

Words and images © 2003 Michael J. Ross