WEBVTT

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Dams don't always hold water back,

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sometimes they have to let it through.

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For example, if there's a threat to the dam's integrity,

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or they need to increase supply downriver,

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then they'll open the valves.

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Go on Jonny, really let it rip!

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Right.

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Go on!

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[Laughs] -

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look at that! Jonny, you've broken it!

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This valve alone

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can release over 8,000 litres of water a minute.

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Now that is a lot of water! Turn it off!

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Turn it off!

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Now there are a few dams in the country

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where a release of water can be requested by anyone.

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You might be a farmer downriver

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who just needs a bit more water released to irrigate their land.

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Or an environmental group concerned

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that lowerwater levels downriver

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are compounding the effects of pollution.

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But you do have to pay.

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For waterto be released for a whole day

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it can cost 1,500 pounds.

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But despite the cost,

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an increasing number of people are requesting

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the release of water

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so they can enjoy thrill seeking recreational pursuits!

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And one of the most popular of those leisure activities

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on this river is whitewater rafting.

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But just how much difference can a release of water

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from a dam upriver make?

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Well we're not moving at all at the moment

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and the river is just flowing gently,

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but we've been told that they're going to release a load of water

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from the dam up above

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and this river is going to turn into a monster.

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With the dam open, the amount of waterflowing down

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this river increases to a massive 900 million litres,

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that's 50 times the normal amount,

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which means the boys will be travelling down it

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10 times faster than normal!

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This is the biggest drop of the river.

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That's a big one! Oh my word!

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Oh my word!

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Here's the biggun!

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Without that dam up there we couldn't do this today.

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And more and more places across the UK

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are taking advantage of dams to have fun!

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Let's do it again, come on.

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Sounds like a damn good idea to me!

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For that you're carrying the raft, mate.

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For that you're carrying the raft, mate.