Castlereigh Dam Explained

Castlereigh Dam
Location Map:Sri Lanka
Location Map Size:270px
Coordinates:6.8733°N 80.5664°W
Country:Sri Lanka
Location:Hatton, Central Province
Purpose:P
Status:O
Opening:January 1965
Owner:CEB
Dam Type:G
Dam Crosses:Kehelgamu Oya
Plant Name:Wimalasurendra Power Station
Plant Coordinates:6.9086°N 80.525°W

The Castlereigh Dam (also spelled Castlereagh) is a gravity dam built across the Kehelgamu Oya, a major tributary to the Kelani River, approximately 3km (02miles) south-west of Hatton, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.[1]

Reservoir and power station

The dam creates the iconic Castlereigh Reservoir, which is almost entirely maintained by the inflow of water from the Kehalgamu Oya. Water from the reservoir is diverted to the Wimalasurendra Power Station, located approximately 12km (07miles) downstream at, near Norton Bridge. The power station discharges the water into the Norton Reservoir, created by the Norton Dam, located at the same site.

The power station consists of two 25-megawatt units, totalling the plant capacity to . Both units were commissioned in .[2]

Water airport

The Castlereigh Reservoir is also home to the Castlereigh Water Airport, registered under the IATA code NUF.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CEB Hydropower Generation. Ceylon Electricity Board. 18 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140118144345/http://www.ceb.lk/sub/knowledge/hydropower.html. 18 January 2014.
  2. Web site: CEB Generation Details: Laxapana Complex. Ceylon Electricity Board. 18 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116192952/http://www.ceb.lk/sub/other/networkg.html. 16 January 2014.
  3. Web site: NUF - Castlereigh Reservoir. PilotNav.com. 19 January 2014.