Wainfleet Floods. Sub-Station Pump Out.

Probably because flooding was not considered that likely when the substation was first built.

Some substations are about 100 years old ! I doubt that any of the equipment is that old, but the same sites tend to be re-used for newer equipment.


In my view flood risk needs greater consideration. Large high voltage grid substations can justify relatively elaborate defences such as being surrounded by flood resistant dams or walls and with reliable pumping plant to remove water that does get in.


Small local DNO substations seldom have room for much in the way of defences but could usefully have equipment on plinths. Oil cooled transformers should be fine if partially immersed in water, the limiting factor is usually water reaching the transformer terminals or entering the 11Kv switchgear.

The bottom phases of the LV fuse board being underwater is most undesirable, but the equipment often still functions thus.

If water enters the outer sheaths of LV  P.I.L.C. cables via the ends at the substation fuse board, then failure is virtually inevitable, though not always straight away.

Probably because flooding was not considered that likely when the substation was first built.

Some substations are about 100 years old ! I doubt that any of the equipment is that old, but the same sites tend to be re-used for newer equipment.


In my view flood risk needs greater consideration. Large high voltage grid substations can justify relatively elaborate defences such as being surrounded by flood resistant dams or walls and with reliable pumping plant to remove water that does get in.


Small local DNO substations seldom have room for much in the way of defences but could usefully have equipment on plinths. Oil cooled transformers should be fine if partially immersed in water, the limiting factor is usually water reaching the transformer terminals or entering the 11Kv switchgear.

The bottom phases of the LV fuse board being underwater is most undesirable, but the equipment often still functions thus.

If water enters the outer sheaths of LV  P.I.L.C. cables via the ends at the substation fuse board, then failure is virtually inevitable, though not always straight away.