Hidroelectrica SA informs the public that on November 19, 2025, between 07:00 and 16:00, controlled discharges will be resumed downstream of the Vidraru Dam as part of the emptying process. The operation is being conducted under strict supervision, in collaboration with ABA Argeș-Vedea, ISU, the Water Management System, and all relevant county authorities.
These discharges are necessary to once again verify the actual flow capacity of the Argeș River bed between the Vidraru Dam and the Oești reservoir, following the additional consolidation works carried out by ABA Argeș-Vedea between October 30 and November 18, 2025, in the sections considered critical.
Throughout this period, higher flow rates typical of controlled discharge operations are expected downstream of the dam. The public is advised to avoid approaching the Argeș River bed along the section between the Vidraru Dam and the Vîlcele reservoir, to refrain from activities in the riverbed such as fishing or construction works, and to follow the instructions of local authorities and on-site teams. All operations will take place under strict technical supervision, in full compliance with the flow limits set by the operating regulations.
We reiterate that the controlled discharges have no impact on the turbidity of drinking water. During the operation, the discharged flows will be routed through the old Argeș River bed. The connection between the spillway channel - which supplies the Curtea de Argeș treatment plant - and the Oești reservoir, through which the discharged flows are transited, remains interrupted, as has been the case since the previous week. The increased turbidity in the lake is generated by natural factors and the purification process is influenced by the technical operating capacity of the local treatment plant.
The operation, scheduled for November 19, is a mandatory step to complete the emptying of Lake Vidraru under controlled conditions. This process helps confirm the stability of the hydrotechnical structures, verify the proper functioning of the dam's two bottom outlets, and ensure a high level of protection for downstream communities. Hidroelectrica, in cooperation with ABA Argeș-Vedea and the county authorities, is continuously monitoring the situation. All activities are carried out in accordance with the technical provisions and applicable legislation.