BWL to Conduct Annual Test of Dam Break Warning System

The Lansing Board of Water & Light will conduct an annual test of its dam break warning system tomorrow, Saturday, December 5. Two sirens will sound at approximately 1pm, followed by a recorded message that will be broadcasted by loudspeakers. The message will say, “Testing the dam break flood warning system.”

The sirens are located along the Grand River. One is located near Hazel Street, and the other is located near Lenawee and River streets. The BWL conducts the test to ensure the public safety warning system is functional.

Federal law requires the BWL to annually test the emergency warning system which will be activated in the highly unlikely event of a failure of the Moores Park Dam, which is located on the Grand River near the BWL’s Eckert Power Plant. Since 1919 when the BWL began operating the Moores Park Dam, there has never been a recorded failure of the dam, which is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by on-site staff.