Case study: Nathpa Jhakri

Nathpa Jhakri hydropower plant suffered its first sediment problems a year after commissioning, in 2004. The high soil erosion during the snowmelt in the Himalayas results in large sediment loads, in particular quartz particles that can severely damage the plant’s technical equipment. Protecting the hydraulic machinery from abrasion and preserving the reservoir storage in the future called for effective sediment management strategies.