Hydro One Continues Maintenance of Manitouwadge to Hornepayne Line

Written by admin on 27 June 2010

Downtown Manitouwadge Gets Boost From Area Hydro Project

by Karina Hunter

Working and flying condititions were next to ideal at take off with slightly overcast skies, low/no winds, and mild temps.

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Manitouwadge residents may have noticed that, in the past couple weeks, their downtown core and airport have been busier that usual. Everyday a number of Hydro One vehicles can be seen parked downtown as workers shop at local stores and dine in downtown restaurants; while the airport has acted as base of operations for the crew of 25 employees, their supervisor and skilled pilot as they continue line maintenance and brush clearing of 40km of hydro lines in the area.

The terrain which is covered to maintain these lines and keep brush at safe distances is absolutely incredible.

In total, including the work done based out of Hornepayne before the team transferred operations to Manitouwadge, there will be 71km of Hydro’s line which will have been maintained including; clearing of any dangerous growth, replacement of aged poles and cross beams, by the time the project ends in approximately one week’s time.

Pesticides are being sprayed, you may have seen them under hydro wires along the highway pale green and very similar in appearance to when lawns are reseeded with spray, to prevent and/or reduce new growth while larger trees are cut with saws by those on the ground. Workers spend their days spraying either from behind a modified skidder which holds a water reservoir diluting the solution which is 95% water, or with 40lb+ specialized ‘backpacks’ on for those locations where terrain is too treacherous even for skidders.

Contrary to what some might assume, the guns with which the pesticides are sprayed are not automated nor do they spray continuously. They are controlled by the workers on foot who walk behind a skidder or independantly, using the hoses which end in a gun/trigger attachment with a trigger enabling them to spray only when and where necessary with extra precaution being used near any stream, river or lakes (and even swamps) to avoid the possibility of contamination of water sources. Because of how remote much of the line’s length is, equipment and men (or women) must be flown in to the job sites, following the hydro lines, for the majority of the work saving time and money while significantly reducing environmental impact. The use of helicopters to fly in equipment and work on the lines greatly reduces the length of time involved in completing these projects as well.

Visit OntarioNewsNorth.com again to view video as I fly along during a morning with the Hydro One Manitouwadge Area Line Maintenance team led by supervisor Glenn Rivard, Forestry Services Hydro One; until then, enjoy these photos, taken June 15^th via helicopter, visiting Hydro One’s Manitouwadge area operations.

Thank you very much to Glenn Rivard, Forestry Services Hydro One for arranging and guiding my helicopter tour of their operations and to the amazing Pilot who flew us. It was absolutely incredible to be flown under and parked beneath the hydro lines, with approximately 15 feet clearance, to access the remote locations which we visited and feel completely confident that I was in very competent hands.

MORE INFO

Brush clearing of hydro lines is necessary to prevent the possibility of arc-caused forest fires during the peek consumption season of summer when hot weather, increased electricity usage (a/c use is one of the largest contributors to skyrocketing electricity consumption in summer months stressing the system much more than heating does during winter months) and dry conditions combine to create the prime conditions for forests fires to begin. The hydro lines will droop, making the distance between the line and the ground or growing trees shorter, factor in the increased voltage travelling through the lines and arcing can become a significant problem were in not for the brush maintenance done at regular chronilogical intervalas (in the case of the Manitouwadge – Hornepaye line, every 5 to 8 yrs).
As a ‘radio’ line, one through which the electricity travels in only one direction; the Manitouwadge to Hornepayne line is of higher priority than a circular line as the later, if experiencing a problem, is equipped with the abiliy to switch, either manually or automatically, the direction in which electricity is being delivered, to by-pass any issue until it is repaired.
For more information about line maintenance and brush clearing or finding a carreer outdoors with Hydro One, visit their website.
Photos were taken during a two hour flight which departed from Manitouwadge Airport and flew to within 10km from Marathon, following the Hydro Line for much of the route though we also flew along the 614 and over the township of Manitouwadge.