LESSON 2 RESERVOIRS

Why Reservoirs?
To stabilize the flow of water, either by regulating a varying supply
in a natural stream or by satisfying a varying demand by the ulti
mate consumers
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Storage, or conservation reservoir can retain excess
water from periods of high flow for use during periods
of drought
Storage of floodwater may reduce flood damage below
the reservoir
Distribution reservoir to provide the varying rate of
demand for water during the day
Stock tanks or farm ponds may conserve the intermittent
flow from small creeks for useful purposes

Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
Area elevation curve
is constructed by
planimetering the
area enclosed within
each contour within
the reservoir site
STORAGE CAPACITY
Elevation storage and elevation area
curves for Cherokee Reservoir on the
Holston River, Tennessee
LESSON 2 Reservoirs

Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
NORMAL POOL LEVEL
maximum elevation to which the reservoir surface will rise during
ordinary operating conditions

determined by the elevation of the spillway crest or the top of the
spillway gates
MINIMUM POOL LEVEL
lowest elevation to which the pool is to be drawn under normal
conditions
may be fixed by the elevation of the lowest outlet in the dam or,
in the case of hydroelectric reservoirs, by conditions of operating
the efficiency of the turbines

LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
USEFUL STORAGE
storage volume between the minimum and normal pool levels

for multipurpose dams, these may be subdivided into conservation
storage and flood- mitigation storage
DEAD STORAGE
water held below the minimum pool level
SURCHARGE STORAGE
discharge over the spillway; normally uncontrolled; it exists only
while a flood is occurring and cannot be retained for later use
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
BANK STORAGE
increases the capacity of the reservoir above that indicated by the
elevation-storage curve
VALLEY STORAGE
a variable volume occupied by water in natural stream channel
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Physical Characteristics of Reservoirs
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Reservoir Yield
is the amount of water that can be supplied from the reservoir
during a specified interval of time; it is dependent on inflow
and will vary from year to year
YIELD
SAFE or FIRM YIELD is the maximum quantity of water that
can be guaranteed during a critical dry period
SECONDARY YIELD water available in excess of safe yield
during periods of high flow
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Selection of Distribution Reservoir
Capacity for a Given Yield
Example 1. The water supply for a
city is pumped from wells to a dis
tribution reservoir. The estimated
hourly water requirements for the
maximum day are as follows. If
the pumps are to operate at a
uniform rate, what distribution
reservoir capacity is required?
Hour
ending
Demand
(m/h)
Pumping
rate
(m/h)
Hour
ending
Demand
(m/h)
Pumping
rate
(m/h)
0100 273 529.3 1300 759 529.3
0200 206 529.3 1400 764 529.3
0300 256 529.3 1500 729 529.3
0400 237 529.3 1600 671 529.3
0500 257 529.3 1700 670 529.3
0600 312 529.3 1800 657 529.3
0700 438 529.3 1900 612 529.3
0800 627 529.3 2000 525 529.3
0900 817 529.3 2100 423 529.3
1000 875 529.3 2200 365 529.3
1100 820 529.3 2300 328 529.3
1200 773 529.3 2400 309 529.3
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Hour ending
Demand
(m/h)
Pumping rate
(m/h)
Required from
reservoir (m)
Hour ending
Demand
(m/h)
Pumping rate
(m/h)
Required from
reservoir (m)
0100 273 529.3 1300 759 529.3
0200 206 529.3 1400 764 529.3
0300 256 529.3 1500 729 529.3
0400 237 529.3 1600 671 529.3
0500 257 529.3 1700 670 529.3
0600 312 529.3 1800 657 529.3
0700 438 529.3 1900 612 529.3
0800 627 529.3 2000 525 529.3
0900 817 529.3 2100 423 529.3
1000 875 529.3 2200 365 529.3
1100 820 529.3 2300 328 529.3
1200 773 529.3 2400 309 529.3
TOTAL TOTAL
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
GRAPHICAL SOLUTION

b
a
I O ) (
where:
O = Outflow (demand)
I = Inflow pumping rate

RRC =

LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Selection of Capacity for a River
Reservoir
Sequent Peak Algorithm - values of cumulative sum of inflow
minus withdrawals
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Selection of Capacity for a River
Reservoir
Mass Curve (Rippl Diagram)
a cumulative plotting of
net reservoir inflow
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Selection of Capacity for a River
Reservoir
Example 2. What reservoir capacity
is required to assure a yield of
75,000 acre-ft/yr for the inflows
shown?
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Selection of Capacity for a River
Reservoir
Example 3. What yield will be available
if a reservoir of 30,000 acre-ft
capacity is provided at the site for which
the mass curve of Fig. 7.7 applies?
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
Reservoir Reliability
RELIABILITY of the reservoir is defined as the probability that
will deliver the expected demand throughout its lifetime without
incurring a deficiency
LESSON 2 Reservoirs
LET LEARNING CONTINUE.