LIHI Certificate # 55 --- Cosgrove Hydroelectric Project (FERC No.10688) MWRA water Delivery System, Massachusetts
Portland, Maine (July 21, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that at their monthly meeting the Board voted unanimously to certify the Cosgrove Hydroelectric Project ("Project"). The project, which is located on the MWRA water delivery system, Massachusetts. In reaching its decision to certify the Oakdale Hydroelectric Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report and recommendations. LIHI certification for the Oakdale Hydroelectric Project is granted for 5-year term beginning on April 14, 2010
6-9-10 LIHI received the following comment from the USFWS on the Cosgrove Intake Project:
This conduit project has been operational for many years. Review of the project file shows no indication of compliance violations or impacts to fishery resources (the project withdraws water from the Wachusett Reservoir). Based on the information in our files and consultation with MA DFW staff, we would have no objection to this project receiving LIHI certification.
Melissa Grader
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US FWS/New England Field Office
c/o CT River Coordinator's Office
103 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
413-548-8002, x124
This conduit project has been operational for many years. Review of the project file shows no indication of compliance violations or impacts to fishery resources (the project withdraws water from the Wachusett Reservoir). Based on the information in our files and consultation with MA DFW staff, we would have no objection to this project receiving LIHI certification.
Melissa Grader
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US FWS/New England Field Office
c/o CT River Coordinator's Office
103 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
413-548-8002, x124
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Portland, Maine (April 14, 2010) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ("Applicant" or "MWRA") has submitted an application for certification of the Cosgrove Hydro project.
Overview and Background: The MWRA supplies wholesale water to local water departments in 50 communities, primarily in the Boston metropolitan area. On average, MWRA supplies approximately 200 million gallons per day to its water system customers. MWRA's water comes from the Quabbin Reservoir, about 65 miles west of Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, about 35 miles west of Boston. Both Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs are man-made reservoirs, constructed for water supply purposes. More than 50% of the inflow into the Wachusett Reservoir is transferred from Quabbin Reservoir via the Quabbin Aqueduct/Tunnel. From Wachusett Reservoir, the Cosgrove Aqueduct conveys water to the John J. Carroll Treatment Plant (JJCWTP) in Marlborough. After treatment, water is sent eastward via the MetroWest Tunnel or Hultman Aqueduct (back-up).
Downstream of JJCWTP and close to its centers of demand, MWRA has recently constructed a new network of tanks to protect and store treated drinking water in compliance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The network of new tanks includes the Norumbega and Loring Road Covered Storage Facilities. From the tanks, water is then distributed to member communities.
The MWRA transmission system consists of over 100 miles of tunnels and aqueducts that transports water largely by gravity to points of distribution within the MWRA service area. There are three locations within this water transmission system where hydroelectric facilities are located. These include: Oakdale at the end of the Quabbin Aqueduct; the Cosgrove Intake to the Cosgrove Aqueduct, and at the Loring Road Covered Storage Facility (this facility is under construction and will become operational in fall, 2010)
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Cosgrove Hydro (FERC No.10688): The Cosgrove hydroelectric facility is located at the Cosgrove intake. The Cosgrove Intake and hydroelectric facility regulates the flow of water from the Wachusett Reservoir into the Cosgrove Aqueduct, which is an important transmission leg in the supply of water to the Boston Metropolitan area. There are two sections, the North and South intakes, and both intakes include a hydraulic turbine and two bypass lines. Each intake has three channels with traveling water screens. Each intake also has an upper intake sluice gate and lower intake sluice gate that allow operational flexibility to draw water from different levels of the reservoir. On the North intake, after this sluice gate, the water enters a common wet-well and from the wet well, flow is directed to either the turbine generator 1, bypass line 1 or bypass line 2 or a combination. Each of the bypass lines contains a sleeve valve, which is designed to regulate flows to the water supply transmission system over a range of flows. The configuration of the South intake parallels the North intake and flows entering the South intake are directed to either turbine generator 2, or bypass line 3 or bypass line 4.
Turbines are vertically oriented, full Kaplan type with six adjustable runner blades. The turbine generators were put into operation in 1969, and were recently rehabilitated and upgraded. These upgrades were necessary to integrate the turbines operation with a newly configured water supply system. The hydroelectric facility now operates at a head of approximately 55 feet, which flows through each turbine varying from 60 mgd to 280 mgd. Maximum output of each of the turbines is between 1000-1200 kW. Average annual power generation is 3 Gigawatt hours. Electricity is used on site as well as exported to the electrical grid (National Grid).
PUBLIC COMMENT
We encourage public comments on each of these applications. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think these Projects meet our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Project or Projects that you have an interest in. Your comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered.
Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail (preferred) at info@lowimpacthydro.org with "Cosgrove Project comments" in the subject line; by fax at (206) – 984-3086; or by mail addressed to LIHI, 34 Providence Street, Portland, ME, 04103. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on June 14, 2010 to be considered. All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond. Any response will also be posted.