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Tag: volunteer

Low flows for the River Thames at Reading is likely to continue

06/09/202210/09/2022 Anne WheldonLeave a comment
Coutersy of Callum Cromwell, Callum’s Night Photography

Reading Hydro volunteer Wilson Chan is a PhD student at Reading University, carrying out research on the impacts of climate change on UK water resources.  He’s applied his data modelling expertise to predict likely flow in the River Thames over the next few months. In a future blog he’ll update the data and also discuss the likely impact of climate change on the Thames flow. It’s great to have Wilson’s data modelling expertise to help us understand river flow better (even though the outlook is somewhat gloomy for the next few months….).

July 2022 has been confirmed the driest July on record for southern England.  The same month also saw a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures reaching 40°C for the first time. Precursors to the latest drought were a drier than average winter and spring 2022, and the driest winter-spring sequence since the 1970s. The flow of the River Thames at Reading has been declining since spring 2022 and high evaporation from the exceptionally hot and dry summer has exacerbated this decline. This low flow means that Reading Hydro hasn’t been able to generate electricity since June. So what is the outlook for the coming months?

To look at this, I followed the UKCEH Hydrological Outlook “Ensemble Streamflow Prediction” (ESP) technique based on historical climate to look at the likely river flows over the coming year. Details of the model and technique are in this paper, and the results are summarised in the graphs below.

The black line at the left of the upper graph is the actual flow of the Thames at Reading up to August 2022.  Each of the 56 grey lines that continue from August suggest the possible flow for the coming year, modelled by assuming that the rainfall and temperature will be identical to one of the past 56 years. The variation in weather from year to year leads to a large variation in predicted river flow, as anyone who has lived in Reading for a long time would expect. I have highlighted what would happen if we have a repeat of weather from particularly dry years (i.e. 1976, 2003 and 2011).  

It’s useful to see the wide range of plausible flow rates, but how do we know what flow is likely on a given future day?  The approach I used is to calculate the percentage of simulations falling in defined ‘bands’ of flow rate, which gives the probability that, based on past weather, the flow on a particular day next year will lie within this band, as shown in the lower graph.  Here, I’ve chosen thresholds relevant to Reading Hydro: a) 5.24 m/s, the hands-off flow below which we are never allowed to generate, b) 11.44 m/s, the minimum flow required for full generation and c) 37.9 m/s, the average flow of Thames at Reading.

The prediction isn’t very encouraging. It suggests that, without exceptionally high rainfall soon, there is a high likelihood that river flow will be below the level needed for the Reading Hydro turbines to re-start operation, until at least October 2022.

JOIN US AT READING TOWN MEAL – 29th September 2018

24/09/201824/09/2018 Erica PurvisLeave a comment

There’s a distinct chill to the air, the leaves are turning hues of gold and rust red, drifting and floating down the river. Alongside this the squash are ripening! This means its most definitely Autumn and it’s time for the glorious Reading Town Meal .

This year, we’re delighted to be teaming up with The Reading Sustainability Centre to be popping-up in Forbury Gardens on Saturday the 29th of September from 12 to 4pm.

Alongside the delicious free veggie food that will be distributed, cooked by Reading College catering students and made from donated veggies from local allotment holders and home growers. There will be lots of interesting workshops, stalls, live music and yes, us, to come and chat to and share your eco waste and energy tips that we’ll be harvesting for Reading.

It will be a chance to chat with us to find out more about both organisations, where we’re up to with the project, as well as join as a member or get involved volunteering to help make Reading more sustainable.

We’ll give you a little tip in advance. Make sure you’re there early as the food goes fast!

JOIN US FOR OUR AGM, ACTION EVENING (AND CAKE) – 27th of March, 7:30pm to 10:00pm The Outlook

15/03/201815/03/2018 Erica PurvisLeave a comment

Come along to Reading Hydro’s 2nd AGM , hear updates, get involved and celebrate the progress we’ve all made!

We’ll be sharing where we’re up to with the project and reflect what we’ve done towards our objectives. Then carry on building on this together.

As a member it’s important that you are able to share your views, ideas and help us shape Reading Hydro going forward!

If you are not already a member you are more than welcome to join us as well and if you want can also join there. Just £1 to join our community co-op (we are a Community Benefit Society)

We’ll be downstairs at The Outlook  (which also serves food) and we’ll be bringing some cake (including Vegan).

We’re looking forward to seeing and working with our members, volunteers and supporters to continue moving Reading Hydro forward!

READING HYDRO PLANNING EVENING – 7:30pm Monday 19th of February, The Outlook

12/02/2018 Erica PurvisLeave a comment

JOIN OUR  OPEN ACTION EVENING  FOCUSED ON PLANNING DOWNSTAIRS AT THE OUTLOOK

Come and join us for Discussions, a Drink, and some Doing,  helping us out on keeping the Reading Hydro Project moving forward.
If you are not already a member, don’t worry, you can join us at this or any other open members’ event (and perhaps sign-up while you’re there).
This week we’ll be focusing on planning and project management.
  • How we can clarify and structure the next steps both more detailed and clearer.
  • Looking at the best tools we can use for collaborative working
  • Reaching out for expert insight in project planning, civils, procurement and more.

If you have interest, or skills in any of these particular areas ( or others) then this is the night for you!

In the meantime you can get in touch with us at reading.hydro.cbs@gmail.com 

READING HYDRO – ACTION EVENING 7:30pm Tuesday 23rd of January, The Outlook

22/01/201822/01/2018 Erica PurvisLeave a comment

JOIN OUR FIRST OPEN ACTION EVENING OF 2018, DOWNSTAIRS AT THE OUTLOOK

Come and join us for Discussions, a Drink, and some Doing,  helping us out on keeping the Reading Hydro Project moving forward.
If you are not already a member, don’t worry, you can join us at this or any other open members’ event (and perhaps sign-up while you’re there).
Topics we’ll be looking at, as well as running through key steps in the next year, include:

  • Applying for seed funding – grants, fundraising idea
  • Building our Hydro Community, publicity and awareness  – what could are next main activity be?
  • Education and open data – planning school resources and data possibilities and signage
  • Next steps with choosing the Technology and potential details we need help with
  • ???????

There’ll also be some specialist ‘jobs’ you could take on or suggest to suitable friends. Current key areas of expertise that we’re in need of support with include:

  • NEGOTIATION: Contract negotiation for a variety of building, contractual and partnership needs
  • CIVIL ENGINEERING: Insight and experience in building development, price estimations, concrete needed etc
  • LEGAL: Contracts, liability, advice
  • FINANCE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Additional support in managing the planning and financing of the project
  • WEB & DIGITAL: Website review and development support, data integration
You can get in contact with us here or email reading.hydro.cbs@gmail.com directly.

Bring your ideas, pens and digital devices!

Find us downstairs at The Outlook pub, 76-78 King’s Rd, Reading, RG1 3BJ, from 7:30pm. If you like, you can let us know you’re joining via our facebook group event or ask any questions in advance.

News

  • Recent rains have reduced our generation
  • Reading Hydro highlighted at COP27
  • Generation starts again
  • Reading Hydro & Running Out of Time Relay
  • Low flows for the River Thames at Reading is likely to continue
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