Rehabilitation of the Épau Dam 🚧
Hydrostadium was commissioned by Le Mans Ville et Métropole to provide full project management for the rehabilitation of the Épau Dam, a century-old structure in the heart of Le Mans. In collaboration with the setec consultancy, we worked to address the many challenges involved:
▶️ Controlling the upstream water level to ensure the city’s drinking water supply, while improving flood-level management to protect people and property from flooding
▶️ Restoring ecological continuity at the dam
▶️ Increasing the facility’s hydropower generation by showcasing the structure’s historical heritage
The works, which began in June 2024, are expected to be completed in summer 2025. They involved:
✔️ Installing a new 18 m-wide and 2 m-high flap gate to ensure reliable, automated regulation (HYDREO)
✔️ Creating a fish pass to enable local species to overcome a 2.10 m difference in level. The 11 pools were installed beneath the former building housing a Francis turbine (Océlian)
✔️ Renovating the two water wheels and their associated equipment to double the site’s hydropower generation capacity while preserving its historical heritage (Croix & ER3i)
A project rich in expertise and technical challenges! Many thanks to Le Mans Ville et Métropole for its trust, and congratulations to all the teams involved in this project.
Next step: commissioning the hydropower facility! 🚀
