RESERVOIR
RESERVOIR
RESERVOIR
USES OF A RESERVOIR
Hydroelectricity
A reservoir generating hydroelectricity includes turbines connected to the
retained water body by large-diameter pipes. These generating sets may be at
the base of the dam or some distance away. Some reservoirs generating
hydroelectricity use pumped re-charge in which a high-level reservoir is filled
with water using high-performance electric pumps at times when electricity
demand is low and then uses this stored water to generate electricity by
releasing the stored water into a low-level reservoir when electricity
demand is high. Such systems are called pump-storage schemes.
Controlling watercourses
Reservoirs can be used in a number of ways to control how water flows
through downstream waterways.
Recreation
The water bodies provided by many reservoirs often allow
some recreational uses such as fishing, boating, and other activities. Special
rules may apply for the safety of the public and to protect the quality of the
water and the ecology of the surrounding area. Many reservoirs now
support and encourage less informal and less structured recreation such
as natural history, bird watching,landscape painting, walking and hiking and
often provide information boards and interpretation material to encourage
responsible use.