Norton Dam

The Norton Dam (also sometimes called the Norton Bridge Dam) is a gravity dam built across the Kehelgamu Oya, which is a major tributary to the Kelani River. The dam is built at Norton Bridge, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.[1]

Norton Dam
Location of Norton Dam in Sri Lanka
CountrySri Lanka
LocationNorton Bridge,
Central Province
Coordinates06°54′50″N 80°31′18″E
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1924
Opening dateDecember 1950 (1950-12)
Owner(s)Ceylon Electricity Board
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsKehelgamu Oya
Length103 m (338 ft)
Elevation at crest873 m (2,864 ft) MASL
Reservoir
CreatesNorton Reservoir
Total capacity390,000 m3 (14,000,000 cu ft)
Catchment area19.4 km2 (7.5 sq mi)
Surface area0.15 km2 (0.058 sq mi)
Maximum length650 m (2,130 ft)
Maximum width280 m (920 ft)
Old Laxapana Power Station
Coordinates06°55′07″N 80°29′30″E
Operator(s)Ceylon Electricity Board
TypeConventional
Turbines3 × 8.33 MW
2 × 12.50 MW
Installed capacity50 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]

Details of the reservoir posted at the dam site.
The Old Laxapana Power Station (white roof).

See also

References
  1. "CEB Hydropower Generation". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. "CEB Generation Details: Laxapana Complex". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.


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