Goedwig Hydro construction method statement: 23/05/2016

Prepared by Coedwig Hydro Limited

This is the method statement for construction for the Afon Goedwig micro-hydro
power project. The civil engineering components of the project are an intake weir,
pipeline, powerhouse and outfall.

This method statement includes precautions for in and out of river works with
respect to protection of watercourses and aquatic life.

These construction methods precautions and mitigation draw on guidance

contained in the SEPA document; Engineering in the Water Environment Good
Practice Guide: Temporary Construction Methods (Document reference: WAT-SG-
29) and Works in, Near or Liable to Affect Watercourses: PPG5 and MWRP PRS
107 Environment Agency guidance on Concrete Washwaters.

The following sections detail the outline of works for each component of the
project, followed by the matrix of key hazards with respect to protection of
watercourses on site and the incident response procedure

Construction Schedule
Intake construction is planned for June 2016, historically the driest month for this
area. Plans will be reactive to weather conditions. Works in rivers will be only be
carried out in periods of low flow and concrete pouring will only be carried out in
a stable period of dry weather. In the event of adverse weather predictions all at
risk or dismountable works will be removed from the river and the banks.

Pipe installation planned June-July and powerhouse July-August. Plans will be

reactive to weather conditions. Works on steep ground and pipe burial will be
carried out in suitable weather and ground conditions.

Overall sequence of works

1 Site Preparation

1.1 Necessary drawings and documentation are in place for the works.
1.2 Health and safety documentation and provision is in place. Action plans and
materials in place to respond to any incidents involving leaks/breaches/spillages.
1.3 Induction of all contractors on arrival at site including; access, incident and
emergency procedures, health and safety, environmental protection, and
pollution control
1.4 Access routes are established and “no go” zones are marked out

2 Intake Construction
The intake structure is approximately 5m wide and 2m long, made from
approximately 3m3 of reinforced concrete.
A number of impassable falls prevent migrating sea trout reaching further than
approx. 50m upstream of the tailrace area towards the intake.

Fish Protection
It has been agreed with Joel Rees-Jones of NRW on 13/5 that we do not require
to build a fish easement at the intake since there are falls which are impassable
to local brown trout nearby downstream. Hence the proposed measures re fish
and eels are to clear the area by walking through the site several times to
disperse any fish prior to works commencing, and to ensure free downstream
passage at all times.

Diversion of flow during in river works:

Installation of approximately 500mm high sandbag cofferdam with 450mm by-
pass pipe will allow for complete de-watering of the works area for construction of
the weir. Flow will be maintained down the stream at all times.

The weir will be cast with a large open bypass notch around the temporary
bypass pipe. Once all casting work is completed on the weir and all temporary in
river works have been removed, a pre-fabricated plate will be slotted into place in
the bypass notch to complete the weir.

Management of silt from dewatered areas;

Once the by-pass is in place, soil and peat will be cleared back from the stream
edge to the high water line using an excavator and hand tools during dry weather
to keep the potential for silt contamination to a minimum when high flows occur
during the construction period.

A pump will be used to periodically pump any silt-contaminated water from a

sump in drained down areas to a silt trap. The silt trap will be in the form of an
area of natural vegetation (deep moss) with a silt curtain, in the forestry,
minimum 6m from the river edge.
The function of the pump and silt trap will be closely monitored and work stopped
if either fail.
Construction
Shuttering and reinforcement will be prepared to fit the stream bed.
Approximately 3 m3 of concrete will be cast with one delivery of readymix
concrete. The concrete will not be poured without a minimum of 3 days dry
weather forecast.

Management of cement mixing and washing areas;

Washing out of the concrete delivery lorry chute and hand tools will be in a
sealed container on the far side of the forestry track
On completion of works the inactivated liquids and solids will be disposed of to
ground, minimum 10m away from any watercourse or drain.

Supervision of works, and contingency plans;

A construction manager will be on site at all times during the operation of in river
works. The manager will monitor the integrity of the pollution prevention
measures and remedy any problems.
There will be a supply of materials on site to respond quickly with and prevent
contamination of the watercourse by silt and spillages. Straw bales and geotextile
silt fence fabric will be available on site to erect additional silt traps as required. A
spill kit will be available on site for the containment of oil leaks. A backup pump
will be available.
If heavy rain is forecast during preparation of the river bed, reinforcement and
shuttering, the area will be cleared and made safe to ensure no materials are
washed away or cause contamination. The concrete will not be poured without a
minimum of 3 days dry weather forecast.

Sequence of intake works

2.1 Establish out of river silt trap to take discharge from any pumping and
separate out of river washing area for any concrete-contaminated tools and plant.
2.2 Establish temporary diversion of flow within watercourse and
pollution/sediment control measures: Make temporary water diversion to allow in
channel work at the site of the intake structure. Check structure before carrying
out works and throughout duration of works.
2.3 Ensure isolation of any areas drained for work within the river channel and
any other potential drainages into the river which are identified as at risk of
carrying pollution from the construction or associated processes eg. movement of
plant or temporary storage of materials. Extra materials for additional
containment of silt and spillages will be kept on site to allow reactive measures to
be taken.
2.4 Intake construction: Remove overburden to base rock, work will be carried
out with hand tools and excavator as required. Careful monitoring will be made of
precautions taken to ensure surface material does not enter into the watercourse.
Any excavated material is to be stored well away from watercourse.
2.5 Preparation for concrete pour; fix rock anchors, construct and seal formwork,
install valves and fittings, install steel reinforcement
2.6 Before any concrete is poured check integrity that formwork is fully sealed.
Once all preparations are checked and found to be good and conditions are
suitable pour concrete and compact using vibrating poker
2.7 Strike formwork once the concrete has cured. Fix fixtures and fittings and
intake screens
2.8 Repeat processes as necessary to complete works
2.9 Demount silt traps/pollution control measures
3.0 Tidy site on conclusion
3.1 Monitor new structures and reinstated grounds for any potential issues, this
will be close monitoring for the first months as the construction and
commissioning of the project continues, then regular monitoring once normal
operation and maintenance of the scheme is established.

3 Pipeline installation
Pipe route
The section of pipe exiting the intake runs in the riparian zone for approximately
35m and precautions will be taken as for the construction of the intake with
respect to pollution and silt control. Where active drainage lines are crossed by
the pipe route, silt traps will be installed as required.
Measures will be taken to ensure that the pipe route stays isolated from the
stream flow as it leaves the river. Where the pipe trench is temporarily open by
the stream near the intake, sand bags will be used to prevent any possibility of
the stream entering the trench.
The pipe route is adjacent to the existing forestry track for the upper 400m.
After 400m meters the pipe route leaves the forestry road and the remaining
500m will be laid on the surface/shallow buried or covered. For this section the
pipe route is over 50 to 100m away from the river and does not lie on steep cross
slopes falling into the river.
The pipe route does not cross any streams or major drainages.

Upper section by Track

The pipe will be buried in the verge adjacent to the existing forestry track at
approximately 1 in 10 slope on the side away from the existing track drainage
ditch.
The polythene pipe will be welded together prior to excavation of the trench. The
trench will be made, pipe laid and backfilled by a 6T rubber tracked excavator in
3 to 5 working days. This will carried out during dry weather.
The depth of cover over the pipe will be minimum 1000mm. Where the route
crosses existing culverts the location and level of the pipe will be set so as not to
interfere with flow through the culvert, nor impede future access to the culvert for
maintenance or replacement. Excavated spoil will be temporarily stored on the
side of the track. Precautions will be taken to prevent silt contamination from
temporary spoil piles. Once the pipe has been welded and installed it will be
backfilled using the excavated spoil.

Lower section of pipe

The remainder of the route is on a steeper slope with limited access. This
section will be buried shallowly, with an excavator where access is possible or by
hand.
Where the pipe runs under the public footpath this area is accessible by
excavator along an unused trackway, and it will be buried to a minimum cover of
400mm.
Route Marking
The route of the pipe will be clearly marked with pipe markers supplied by NRW.

Pipe handling and welding

The pipe will be installed by welding 12m sections of Polyethylene pipes into
longer strings, which will then be winched into location. The works associated
with the movement of pipe sections and welding equipment will be carried out on
the existing hard standing away from watercourses.

Pollution control
Trenches will be kept open for a minimum length of time. Open cut trenches will
be fitted with silt traps or silt curtains at all intersections with culverts or other
drainage lines. On sloping ground a section of trench will be left closed every
10m to prevent trenches from becoming drainage lines.
As-dug material will be used to backfill around the pipe. The top soil is very thin
in the area, whilst the subsoil has high clay content, preventing the pipe route
becoming a drain once constructed.

Temporary storage of excavated materials will be away from watercourses and

drainage ditches. Silt fences will be erected below stored materials as necessary
to prevent run-off of silt.

Access to the site is by existing forestry tracks. We will minimize requirements for
vehicles to leave existing tracks. Where vehicle access off of the tracks is
required silt traps will be installed on any drainage lines crossed by the
temporary access routes.

Supervision of works, and contingency plans;

A construction manager will be on site at all times during the operation of in river
works. The manager will monitor the integrity of the pollution prevention
measures and remedy any problems.
There will be a supply of materials on site to respond quickly and prevent
contamination of the watercourse by silt and spillages. Straw bales and geotextile
silt fence fabric will be available on site to erect additional silt traps as required. A
spill kit will be available on site for the containment of oil leaks. A backup pump
will be available.
If heavy rain is forecast during excavations additional silt control measures will be
put in place and trenches will be closed as necessary.

4 Powerhouse and outfall construction

Construction of the powerhouse will consist of a concrete foundation and floor

slab (approx. 6m3 of concrete), block-work walls with timber cladding and turf roof.
Precautions will be taken for avoidance of pollution and silt contamination as per
the intake construction. Particular care will be taken to fully briefing contractors
on site requirements with respect to protection of the watercourse; no washing of
tools or plant in or adjacent to the watercourse or drainages, no movement of
plant or materials into excluded zones established during site layout, careful
disposal offsite of any surplus materials and waste.

Management of silt from dewatered areas, cement washing, supervision

and incident response
A silt trap for discharge of pumped water and a concrete washing area will be set
up as per the intake. Washing out of the concrete delivery lorry chute and hand
tools will be in a sealed container located more than 10m from the stream. On
completion of works the inactivated liquids and solids will be disposed of to
ground min. 10m away from any watercourse or drain.
A construction manager will be on site at all times during works taking
responsibility for informing and instructing subcontractors, monitoring of pollution
control measures, and implementing response to any incident.

Fish protection
The stretch of stream where the tailrace will be located may occasionally be
accessed by sea trout from the Dulas for spawning for short periods during high
flows (they would have to travel through a 30m long, 3m wide flat bottomed
culvert to get there). We will walk through the works area several times before
starting works. Free upstream and downstream movement by fish and eels will
be maintained during construction of the outfall.

The outfall will be constructed in the following steps during August ‘16:

4.1 Works are isolated from the river by erection of a temporary cofferdam – see
sketch plan below for layout. A small pump will be installed behind the cofferdam
to drain down the area for work. Pumped water will be discharged into the silt
trap erected away from the watercourse.
4.2 The outfall area is excavated down to bedrock or solid ground. Existing
material to be placed to one side for reinstatement
4.3 The floor slab will be cast in concrete
4.4 Once cured, the main outfall structure will be shuttered and cast with
reinforced concrete, around the pipe from the turbine. Wing walls will be
completed, tied into the banks
4.5 River bed reinstated to original level
4.6 Bank and bed scour protection completed using large boulders from
powerhouse excavation
4.7 Outfall screens fitted
4.8 Remove coffer dam and pollution control measures
4.9 Tidy site on conclusion
4.10 Monitor new structures and reinstated grounds
5 Export cable duct installation:

The export cable will be ducted under the stream in August 2016. The duct
carrying the cable will be buried in the existing bed material at a minimum depth
of 500mm below the existing bed level. The bed at the point of crossing is
composed of large shale mudstone. Burial of the duct will be carried out only in
low flow conditions and in a sequence to maintain the unimpeded flow of the
stream during construction. A temporary diversion using sandbags and pipes will
be constructed to divert the flow within the existing channel whilst the duct is
being installed.
Sequence of works for duct installation is as follows;
5.1 Establish temporary diversion of flow within watercourse and
pollution/sediment control measures
5.2 Any pumping required for dewatering of works will be discharged out of the
river channel into silt traps
5.3 Remove material for burial of duct – all removed material is to be stored out
of river and held separate from surrounding material for reinstatement
5.4 Install duct and replace bed material, ensuring reinstatement of bed and
banks to original condition with additional stone as necessary
5.5 Remove temporary flow diversion and demount silt traps/pollution control
measures
5.6 Tidy site on conclusion
5.7 Monitor reinstated grounds for any potential issues

6 Potential environmental hazards and mitigation measures

The following lists primary environmental hazards identified and mitigation

measures which will be put in place

Hazard
5.1 Silt making the water turbid and
causing damage to aquatic plants and
fish populations
Mitigation
Do not disturb submerged silt beds or
material within the river. Do not allow
any excavated material to enter into the
river.

Install silt traps on the drainage points

5.2 Cement entering the watercourse
5.3 Spilled / leaked vehicle fuel and
hydraulic oil entering watercourses,
of any areas drained and isolated for
work within the river channel to prevent
surface water carrying material into the
river flow.
Pour cement used in in accordance
with best practice. Clean tools and
plant in appropriate sealed containers.
Ensure that requirements for
environmental protection and non-
contamination of watercourses are
clearly communicated to all contractors
and drivers on site. Materials will be on
site for entrapment of spillages.
If any diesel is required to be stored on
site it should be stored in appropriate
affecting water quality and fish
populations
5.4 Oil and fuel contaminating soil
5.5 Chemicals entering the
watercourse
5.6 Disturbance of fish populations at
critical times of movement or spawning
in river channel
6 Incident Procedure
In the event that the environmental protection measures should fail and an
unforeseen pollution incident should occur, the following procedure is to be
followed:
containers, bunded where necessary
with ample capacity, away from
watercourses
Monitor construction vehicles for leaks
and respond to any indication of leaks
or risk. Only permit adequately
maintained vehicles onto site
If an incident occurs and any soils or
other materials are contaminated with
fuel or oil, move them to a suitable
landfill site. Ensure that there is
provision on site for containment of
spills
Consider necessity of any chemicals
brought onto site, avoid use of all
potentially harmful chemicals and
substitute for non toxic materials and
processes wherever possible.
If necessary for use on site keep
chemicals and oils securely stored.
Ensure any contractors are aware of
correct usage and importance of
avoiding contamination through
careless use, spillage or improper
disposal.
We will carefully follow the conditions
of our abstraction licence to limit extent
and duration of works in river to avoid
any disturbance to fish populations
during sensitive periods
6.1 Discoverer of incident alerts Construction Manager of nature and magnitude
of the incident
6.2 Construction Manager to reports incident to Natural Resources Wales
immediately in order to inform of potential hazards and to take advice on how to
proceed
6.3 Construction Manager and team to prevent situation from getting any worse
(i.e. stop pollution source if possible)
6.4 If not possible to stop pollution source, Construction Manager and team to
contain situation and minimize damage
6.5 Work not to be recommenced until pollution incident is resolved and all
mitigation measures have been checked and reinstated
6.6 Following any incident; Construction Management team to review site
methods and working practices with NRW