The positive thing about the lowering of the water level is that the risk of winter floods and flash floods is lower. An ice cap may form in the river in the near future if the weather is favorable.
The low rainfall of late autumn and early winter has lowered the water level of Kokemäenjoki to an exceptionally low level.
For example, at Pori, the river is so low that the biggest ships on the shore already catch the bottom of the river. One example of this is the restaurant ship Porinna, whose heeling, according to SK, has already caused damage to the interior of the ship.
In addition to the dry autumn, the water level has also been lowered by the moderate flow of water from the Harjavalta power plant. Water is collected in the lakes in case of winter for electricity production. The sea water level has also been low, which affects the water level of Kokemäenjoki in Pori.
– The water temperature in the river is starting to drop to zero and freezing has already started. There should be a comprehensive ice cover in the river so that the risks of winter floods and flash floods would be as small as possible. Getting an ice cap seems easy at the moment.
It has been negotiated with the power plants that larger fluctuations in flows would be avoided in the coming days. Cold weather is expected for the rest of the week, so the thin ice sheets are allowed to form in peace, and they are not destroyed by strong fluctuations in the currents.
– There does not seem to be a need for a special cooling run at the moment. The cubic volume of water is currently pretty much the same, where we aim to get it during the cooling run, Triipponen adds.