Reservoirs and tanks

Definition

Reservoirs and tanks are artificial or natural storage systems designed to collect, store, and manage water for various uses, including drinking, irrigation, and industrial applications. These structures play a crucial role in urban planning and water management by ensuring a reliable supply of water, especially in areas prone to drought or with fluctuating water sources. Efficiently designed reservoirs and tanks can help prevent flooding and promote sustainable water usage.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Reservoirs can be created by damming rivers, while tanks are usually smaller storage systems that can be above or below ground.
2. Effective design of reservoirs includes considerations for sedimentation control, which helps maintain water quality and storage capacity over time.
3. Rainwater harvesting systems often rely on tanks to capture and store rainwater for later use in urban environments.
4. Reservoirs also play a critical role in flood control by managing excess water during heavy rainfall events.
5. Proper maintenance of reservoirs and tanks is essential to prevent issues like algal blooms and contamination that can affect water supply.

Review Questions

• How do reservoirs and tanks contribute to sustainable urban water management?
  • Reservoirs and tanks are vital for sustainable urban water management because they provide a reliable source of stored water for various uses, including drinking, irrigation, and industrial processes. By managing how water is collected and stored, cities can reduce dependency on direct water sources, especially in times of drought or scarcity. Additionally, these structures help mitigate flooding risks by controlling excess rainfall runoff, making urban areas more resilient to climate variability.
• Discuss the relationship between catchment areas and the efficiency of reservoirs in urban planning.
  • Catchment areas are crucial for the efficiency of reservoirs as they determine the amount of precipitation that can be collected for storage. In urban planning, identifying appropriate catchment areas ensures that reservoirs are positioned to maximize their capacity and minimize loss due to evaporation or seepage. Properly planned catchment areas can enhance the sustainability of water resources by providing adequate supply for the community while supporting local ecosystems.
• Evaluate the impact of climate change on the design and management of reservoirs and tanks in urban settings.
  • Climate change poses significant challenges for the design and management of reservoirs and tanks in urban settings by altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, and affecting overall water availability. As weather becomes more unpredictable, planners must adapt designs to accommodate larger storage capacities for potential flooding while also ensuring efficient drainage systems to handle sudden heavy rainfall. Additionally, the need for robust maintenance protocols becomes critical to address issues such as sedimentation and contamination that may arise due to changing environmental conditions.

Related terms

Aquifer: A geological formation that can store and transmit groundwater, serving as a natural source of water for wells and springs.

Water Cycle: The continuous movement of water through the environment, involving processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

Catchment Area: The area of land where precipitation collects and drains into a common outlet, often used to determine the supply of water to reservoirs.