Colbún S.A. will begin a preventive spill at the Colbún Reservoir on Thursday, August 27, at 9:00 a.m., starting with a limited flow of about 50 m3/s — roughly a 20% increase over the Maule River's current flow. With the reservoir at 98% capacity, the gradual, controlled operation is designed to free up storage ahead of rising inflows and forecast rainfall. Water released downstream will never exceed what the reservoir takes in. SENAPRED declared a Yellow Alert for San Clemente and Colbún on Tuesday the 25th, and the public is asked to stay away from the Maule's banks all the way to its mouth.
Colbún S.A. reports that, starting tomorrow, Thursday, August 27, at 9:00 a.m., it will begin a preventive spill at its Colbún Reservoir. The process will start with a limited volume of water, around 50m3/s. For reference, this figure corresponds to an increase of roughly 20% over the flow currently carried by the Maule River.
As of today, the Colbún Reservoir is at 98% of its capacity. Beginning a preventive, gradual and controlled spill is therefore intended to expand the reservoir's storage capacity ahead of the higher inflows and the rainfall forecast for the coming days. In any case, the water flowing downstream of the reservoir (generated water plus spilled water) will always be equal to or lower than the inflow it receives. (More information on the role of the reservoir during heavy rainfall: https://youtu.be/hqxT_XvHFso).
It should be recalled that this past Tuesday the 25th the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) declared a Yellow Alert for the municipalities of San Clemente and Colbún, in light of the weather projections and the level
recorded at the Colbún Reservoir.
Precautions
The call to the community is reiterated not to approach the banks of the Maule River along its entire length, down to its mouth, while this operation is under way.
Colbún's Commitment
Colbún maintains permanent monitoring of weather conditions, inflows to the reservoir and the behavior of the water level, in coordination with the competent authority. Any relevant update on the evolution of this situation will be communicated promptly to the authorities and to the media.
