RESERVOIR PLANNING

BY S. N. NANAWARE

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 Reservoir Planning
For the best and efficient design of
Irrigation project the investigation is must
so it is carried out in three stages
Surveys for Irrigation project :
1.Reconnaissance Survey
2.Preliminary Survey
3.Detailed Survey / Construction Survey
Reconnaissance Survey :-
In reconnaissance survey the find out number of
project sites where storage of water can be
done. In this survey inspection of region is done
and data collected physically without using
precise survey instrument.
In reconnaissance survey following information is
collected.
The size of catchment area, vegetation in the
catchment area, soil type, slopes, existing
ponds etc
Preliminary Survey :-
This survey is carried out by experienced
supervision with modern instruments it may
take few month to one or two year depending
on size of project. It is carried out in dry season
with careful planning.
Preliminary survey divided into parts
1. Engineering survey
2. Hydrological survey
3. Geological survey
1. Engineering Survey :-
In this type of survey various types of surveys are
carried out such as Plane table survey, Traverse
survey, aerial and photographic survey etc. the
aim of this survey is to prepare a contoured
map of the site.
Contour map gives the following information.
1. Water spread.
2. Capacity of the reservoir.
3. Suitable dam site.
4. Site for waste weir and outlets.
2. Hydrological Survey :-
Whenever any storage work is constructed, it is very
essential to ascertain that required amount of
water will be available at the site for storage.
Therefore hydrological survey is of catchment area
is done to collect the data for determining
availability of water for the reservoir.
It is necessary for
1. To study runoff pattern and to estimate yield
2. To determine maximum discharge.
3. Determination of hydrograph of worst flood to
determine spillway capacity and its capacity.
3. Geological/Exploration Survey :-
It is done in two stages
i) Survey inspection and surface mapping.
ii) Sub surface exploration.
Sub surface exploration gives information
1. Water tightness of the basin
2. Stability of foundation for the dam.
3. Faulty structure in the basin.
4. Type and depth of overburden.
5. Ground water condition of region.
6. Location of quarry sites for construction materials.
Detailed Survey :-
After the preliminary survey only a few sites are
selected for further consideration. In this type
of survey office studies and estimates for each
of the selected site is prepared.
Detailed designs of various storage structures are
prepared in the drawing office and the cost is
worked out. So the relative merits and demerits
of two or more sites are take into consideration
so as to adopt one site finally.
Points to be considered for the site
selection of reservoir :-
1.Stable foundation for the dam should be
available.
2.At the selected site, the river valley should be
narrow so that the length of the dam may be
short.
3.The proposed reservoir basin should be water
tight and free from cracks, fissures so that there is
loss of water due to percolation.
4.The reservoir basin should not submerged
valuable land properties.
Points to be considered for the site
selection of reservoir :-
5. The tributaries which carry high content of
sediments should be avoided.
6. The size should be such that the optimum
storage capacity is available for the desired
purpose.
7. The size should be easily accessible by road and
railway.
8. The construction materials should be available
in nearby area.
Data to be collected for irrigation
project :-
The preliminary investigation consists of
1.Approximate quantity of water.
2.Period of deficient water supply.
3.Technical feasibility of project such as i)
command area, ii) nature of soil, iii) types of crops,
iv) demand for water at present and in future.
4.Approximate cost of all proposed works.
Data to be collected for irrigation
project :-
The detailed investigation consists of
1. Soil survey
2. Field work for availability of water
3. Gauging of river
4. Fixing dam site
5. Availability of materials of construction
6. Sedimentation problem
7. Contour survey of reservoir basin
8. Types of dams
9. Alignment of main canals
Area Elevation and Storage Elevation
Curve ( Area – Capacity Curve ):-
Area elevation curve:-
From the contour plan of reservoir site the area of
successive contours A1,A2,A3………An are
determined with the help of planimeter. The
area A1 is minimum at the bottom of the basin
and area An is maximum at the top of the
basin. This curves gives the area submerged at
different elevation.
Storage - elevation or
volume elevation curve:-
The volume of the storage of water between
successive contours is calculated by prismoidal
formula. The volume of storage between
successive contours, goes on increasing from
bottom of the basin towards its top.
Silting of reservoirs :-
Silting of reservoirs means the deposition of silt
and clay. This mainly occurs when runoff occurs
Runoff contain smaller soil particles such as silt
clay, fine sand which may deposited at the bed
of reservoir which reduces the storage capacity
of reservoir.
When these particles reaches into reservoir tries
to settle down due to action of gravity, coarser
one settle down while fine remain suspension
therefore it is very essential to check silting of
dam and water stored in reservoir.
Method to reduces the entry of silt:-
1. Selection of proper dam site such that
catchment area has less erodable portion.
2. Constructing the dam in stages.
3. Providing vegetation screens.
4. Proper reservoir design causing silt water to
escape.
5. Dredging of silt.
Factor affecting Silting :-
1. Catchment Area : - In case of fan shaped
catchment the amount of deposition of finer
soil fractions will be more as compared to fern
shaped catchment.
2. Slope of country : - If the slope is steep more
particles are deposited through runoff
3. Climatic condition :- climatic condition also
affect the production of silting like dryness,
rain, heat helps in production of silting.
4. Nature of surface soil :- If soil is loose, silting is
more along with runoff.
Control Level in Dam :-
Control Level in Dam :-
1. Top Bund Level (TBL) : - This is RL of dam which
depends on capacity, storage flood lift & free
board. The height of dam at any section is
difference between TBL & GL.
2. High Flood Level (HFL) : - It is the maximum RL
upto which water can rise in the reservoir.
3. Full Tank Level (FTL) :- Water in reservoir is stored
upto a level known as FTL or FRL. Usually the crest
of spillway is kept at this level.
4. Lowest Water Level (LWL) :- It is the lowest RL of
water surface in the reservoir. If water goes below
LWL then water can not be drawn out of the
reservoir.
1. Dead storage: - The storage below lowest sill level
(LSL) can not be used and hence it is called as dead
storage. LSL is a upstream sill level is kept 50cm to
100cm below LWL. This is generally equal to
volume of silt.
2. Live storage : - the storage between LWL and FTL
is called as live storage.
Live storage = irrigation requirement + Tank losses
3. Gross storage :- It is the storage at FTL in the
reservoir.
Gross storage = Dead storage + Live storage
4. Free Board :- It is the vertical distance between
TBL and HFL. It is clear margin kept as a measure
of safety so that wave form should not cross dam.

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