Water Level of Three Gorges Reservoir Rises toward 175 Meters Steadily

The water level of Three Gorges Reservoir broke through 173 meters on October 16. The 175 meters experimental water storage of Three Gorges Dam will achieve its goal in the near future.

The water level of Three Gorges Reservoir reached 173.3 meters on 16:00, October 16. There was a height difference of about 109 meters between the water levels of the upper reaches and lower reaches of Yangtze River. The inflow of Three Gorges Reservoir reaches about 13000 cubic meters per second and the discharge of Three Gorges Dam is about 9000 cubic meters per second. And the impoundment of Three Gorges Dam is about 4000 cubic meters per second.

We learned from the operation department of Three Gorges Dam that the discharge of the reservoir is more than 8000 cubic meters per second in October. The water level of Three Gorges Dam will rise to 175 meters steadily in the end of October or around November. So far, Three Gorges Corporation keeps monitoring the dam, generators, sediment, earthquake and water quality successively.

We also learned from the Maritime Affairs Department of Yangtze River that relevant measures had been adopted to ensure the safety of the Yangtze River bridges and navigation during the 175 meters experimental water storage. The higher vessels which threat to the safety of the bridges would not be permitted to navigate on Three Gorges during the experimental water storage.

175 meters is a normal water storage level of Three Gorges Reservoir. Three Gorges Dam would start its impoundment in the end of the flood season every year. It would maximize its comprehensive benefits in navigation, electricity generating and drought resisting.