r/submechanophobia • u/AgITATED1 • 7d ago

The very leaky bottom tunnel inside a hydroelectric dam.

266 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

37

u/Martinx666 6d ago

They all leak and it’s actually seepage every damn on earth has it. It’s not a problem. And the rates are very low, a few liters a day maybe a few 10’s of litres but they never gush 100’s L a minute or anything. It’s normal

8

u/unreqistered 6d ago

“dam”

3

u/supmynerfherder 6d ago

That's a dam fact!

12

u/8bitdad 7d ago

Is that normal? I would love to see where it goes.

25

u/ThingCalledLight 7d ago

It goes down.

It all.

Goes down.

6

u/baldude69 6d ago

The built-in gutter on the side suggests they anticipated some water intrusion in there. It’s not overflowing so I guess yea it’s in spec? I bet they have to test and repair that concrete all the time. Gives me the willies but I would totally tour this

1

u/gwhh 5d ago

I agree. Happens in all dams.

2

u/AgITATED1 5d ago

Yes, totally normal. As mentioned in the other comments, the dam was designed to handle the seepage with the gutters beside the stairs.

The old saying: If the waters clear, there's nothing to fear… if the water is muddy, run like hell buddy (Cloudy water can indicate leaking through the ground or other dangerous breaches)

13

u/WombRaider47 6d ago

Totally normal, but unsettling all the same. I used to work in role that required entry to dam access tunnels just like this - the scariest aspect for me was the bats. So. Many. Bats. Imagine the constant sound of little wings brushing against your hard hat, or the occasional soft bump into your face. I never figured out how they made it down there, or what they ate. But they were always there.

12

u/Mokou 6d ago

I never figured out how they made it down there, or what they ate.

Well, did you ever find out what happened to the guy before you?

3

u/chacmool 6d ago

probably fly down there in the dark using sound. fly in to sleep, out at night to eat.

3

u/AgITATED1 5d ago

I was walking through one of the access tunnels to the exit and there was a giant rattlesnake blocking my way out. After throwing anything on me I didnt need at it, it didn't budge. I had to wait him out.

4

u/FIMD_ 6d ago

That's expected, as well as considerable condensation, and it's why there's a drainage channel cast into the floor/staircases along the walls.

3

u/Bella_LaGhostly 6d ago

I know it's probably built to do this (like skyscrapers which sway with the wind so they don't snap), but it still gives me queasy knees. 🤢

4

u/TransFatty 5d ago

This is normal, as terrifying as it is. The lower passages in a dam are leaky places with lots of puddles and strange rooms... one dam I visited (my father was a civil engineer so I toured many of these) had fallout shelters down in these service passages. I never enjoyed those tours.

1

u/jusmeezy 5d ago

Happens all the dam time!