27 Jul
2025
27 Jul
'25
10:53 a.m.
On 7/26/25 22:29, Doug Jackson via cctalk wrote:
Yea,
It is fascinating the damage that can be caused by a pump ignoring the
upper limit switch on a water reservoir, and the subsequent damage to the
foundations....
Yup, it had nothing to do with cyber hacking, just a
dislodged sensor. Union Electric (Now Ameren) had a pumped
storage plant built around 1960 at Proffit Mountain, called
their Taum Sauk plant. It pumped water from a river to the
top of an old volcanic cauldera about 800 feet up. They
added an additional rim of gravel and mud to raise the
maximum level. There was a state park right next to the
mountain. In 2005, the dislodged sensor allowed the
reservoir to overflow, causing the gravel rim to collapse
and sending roughly one billion gallons of water crashing
through the state park, nearly killing the park supervisor's
entire family.
Jon