Supersaturation of Nitrogen in Water During Passage Through Hydroelectric Turbines at Mactaquac Dam

Two fish kills occurred at the Saint John River, New Brunswick, below the Mactaquac Hydroelectric Station in the summer of 1968. Gas bubbles, commonly associated with nitrogen supersaturation, were observed on dead and dying salmon (Salmo salar) and eels (Anguilla rostrata). Tests showed that the co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
Main Authors: Macdonald, J. Rod, Hyatt, R. A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1973
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f73-226
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f73-226
Description
Summary:Two fish kills occurred at the Saint John River, New Brunswick, below the Mactaquac Hydroelectric Station in the summer of 1968. Gas bubbles, commonly associated with nitrogen supersaturation, were observed on dead and dying salmon (Salmo salar) and eels (Anguilla rostrata). Tests showed that the concentrations of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen gases were substantially increased when water passed through the turbine generating system at low generating levels. Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen gas increased by as much as 20% above atmospheric equilibrium.