Thames - leave lock chambers full if going upstream

[Old Crusty]

Due to low flows, the EA has requested that boaters leave lock chambers full when heading upstream rather than leave them draining.

 

[jct1981]

Good to know thanks; hopefully they will put a notice on each podium

 

[mersey]

Got a link or something to this advice?

 

[jct1981]

http://riverconditions.environment-agency.gov.uk/#listB

 

[Old Crusty]

Got a link or something to this advice?

It's on the river conditions website.

 

[LittleSister]

Excuse my ignorance, but why would that not be normal practice?

 

[Old Crusty]

Excuse my ignorance, but why would that not be normal practice?

Normal practice is to leave the lock chamber empty to slow down the build up of algae on the chamber walls.

 

[Actionmat]

Normal practice is to leave the lock chamber empty to slow down the build up of algae on the chamber walls.

That made sense when the walls were jet washed. The algae must have peaked by now.

 

[Old Crusty]

That made sense when the walls were jet washed. The algae must have peaked by now.

With an empty chamber and in current hot weather conditions the algae dries in the sun, cracks and drops off if left long enough. Jet washing not permitted now due to elf n safety and bacteria in the river water mist that lockies have inhaled for years.

 

[TrueBlue]

With an empty chamber and in current hot weather conditions the algae dries in the sun, cracks and drops off if left long enough. Jet washing not permitted now due to elf n safety and bacteria in the river water mist that lockies have inhaled for years.

Also dries off the muck on the stairs - so less easy for boaters to slip off (as in an earlier thread)

 

[BB1]

With an empty chamber and in current hot weather conditions the algae dries in the sun, cracks and drops off if left long enough. Jet washing not permitted now due to elf n safety and bacteria in the river water mist that lockies have inhaled for years.

Why cant they scrub the walls as before, no need to cause any mist to enhale.
On another note I see that the EA launches also have filthy waterlines now, shame on the skippers.

 

[Momac]

Excuse my ignorance, but why would that not be normal practice?

This subject has come up previously.

A lock should be left with the sluices closed on both sets of gates which means it will tend to fill or part fill.
The lock being full or part full means the earth pressure on the lock walls is resisted by water pressure and this reduces long term creep deflection of the walls .
If a pedestrian falls in a lock it is better if the lock is full as it is easier to get out and also easier to rescue the faller . Also possibly less injury done in the fall. In an urban situation where there may be more pedestrians and piss artists the top paddles might be left slightly up t make sure the lock fills.
However if the paddles are closed there is less risk of an object becoming stuck in the paddle.

A bit of green growing on the walls of no consequence and is no good reason to leave a lock empty.

 

[Old Crusty]

This subject has come up previously.

A lock should be left with the sluices closed on both sets of gates which means it will tend to fill or part fill.
The lock being full or part full means the earth pressure on the lock walls is resisted by water pressure and this reduces long term creep deflection of the walls .
If a pedestrian falls in a lock it is better if the lock is full as it is easier to get out and also easier to rescue the faller . Also possibly less injury done in the fall. In an urban situation where there may be more pedestrians and piss artists the top paddles might be left slightly up t make sure the lock fills.
However if the paddles are closed there is less risk of an object becoming stuck in the paddle.

A bit of green growing on the walls of no consequence and is no good reason to leave a lock empty.

I merely stated the custom and practise and the reasoning behind it. Potential dynamic reasoning has not been part of the thinking.

In the past, tail sluices have been left up to allow fish to escape the chamber.

 

[Old Crusty]

Link to EA advice for boaters during low flows:

https://www.facebook.com/1437161728...3716172886829/257290374862741/?type=3&theater

 

[Riverleak]

Utter tosh! On the canals perhaps, but not on the Thames. The locks are properly engineered with sheet piling and not brickwork.

 

[AuntyRinum]

This subject has come up previously.

A lock should be left with the sluices closed on both sets of gates which means it will tend to fill or part fill.
The lock being full or part full means the earth pressure on the lock walls is resisted by water pressure and this reduces long term creep deflection of the walls .
If a pedestrian falls in a lock it is better if the lock is full as it is easier to get out and also easier to rescue the faller . Also possibly less injury done in the fall. In an urban situation where there may be more pedestrians and piss artists the top paddles might be left slightly up t make sure the lock fills.
However if the paddles are closed there is less risk of an object becoming stuck in the paddle.

A bit of green growing on the walls of no consequence and is no good reason to leave a lock empty.

That's not what the EA say. The normal practice, according to them, is to leave the bottom paddles open to empty the lock.