Engineering Hydrology; Lecture Note

CHAPTER FIVE

RESERVOIR CAPACITY DETERMINATION

5.0 Introduction
A reservoir is a large, artificial lake created by constructing a dam across a river. Broadly
speaking, any water pool or a lake may be termed a reservoir. However, the term reservoir in
water resources engineering is used in a restricted sense for a comparatively large body of water
stored on the upstream of a dam constructed for this purpose. Thus a dam and a reservoir exist
together. The discharge in a river generally varies considerably during different periods of a year.
If a reservoir serves only one purpose, it is called a single-purpose reservoir. On the other hand,
if it serves more than one purpose, it is termed a multipurpose reservoir. The various purposes
served by a multipurpose reservoir include
 Irrigation
 Municipal and industrial water supply,
 Flood control
 Hydropower,
 Navigation,
 Recreation,
 Development of fish and wild life,
 Soil conservation and
 Pollution control etc.

Types of Reservoirs
Depending upon the purpose served, the reservoirs may be broadly classified into five types:
1. Storage (or conservation) reservoirs
2. Flood control reservoirs
3. Multipurpose reservoirs
4. Distribution reservoirs
5. Balancing reservoirs

Storage reservoirs: Storage reservoirs are also called conservation reservoirs because they are
used to conserve water. Storage reservoirs are constructed to store the water in the rainy season
and to release it later when the river flow is low. Storage reservoirs are usually constructed for
irrigation, municipal water supply and hydropower. Although the storage reservoirs are
constructed for storing water for various purposes, incidentally they also help in moderating the
floods and reducing the flood damage to some extent on the downstream. However, they are not
designed as flood control reservoirs.
Flood control reservoirs: a flood control reservoir is constructed for the purpose of flood
control. It protects the areas lying on its downstream side from the damages due to flood.
However, absolute protection from extreme floods is not economically feasible. A flood control
reservoir reduces the flood damage, and it is also known as the flood-mitigation reservoir.

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Sometimes, it is called flood protection reservoir. In a flood control reservoir, the floodwater is
discharged downstream till the outflow reaches the safe capacity of the channel downstream.
When the discharge exceeds the safe capacity, the excess water is stored in the reservoir. The
stored water is subsequently released when the inflow to reservoir decreases. Care is, however,
taken that the discharge in the channel downstream, including local inflow, does not exceed its
safe capacity. A flood control reservoir is designed to moderate the flood and not to conserve
water. However, incidentally some storage is also done during the period of floods. Flood control
reservoirs have relatively large sluice-way capacity to permit rapid drawdown before or after the
occurrence of a flood.
Multipurpose Reservoirs: A multipurpose reservoir is designed and constructed to serve two or
more purposes. Most of the reservoirs are designed as multipurpose reservoirs to store water for
irrigation and hydropower, and also to effect flood control.
Distribution Reservoir: A distribution reservoir is a small storage reservoir to tide over the peak
demand of water for municipal water supply or irrigation. The distribution reservoir is helpful in
permitting the pumps to work at a uniform rate. It stores water during the period of lean demand
and supplies the same during the period of high demand. As the storage is limited, it merely
helps in distribution of water as per demand for a day or so and not for storing it for a long
period. Water is pumped from a water source at a uniform rate throughout the day for 24 hours
but the demand varies from time to time. During the period when the demand of water is less
than the pumping rate, the water is stored in the distribution reservoir. On the other hand, when
the demand of water is more than the pumping rate, the distribution reservoir is used for
supplying water at rates greater than the pumping rate. Distribution reservoirs are rarely used for
the supply of water for irrigation. These are mainly used for municipal water supply.
Balancing reservoir: A balancing reservoir is a small reservoir constructed downstream of the
main reservoir for holding water released from the main reservoir.
The reservoir capacity is a term used to represent the reservoir storage capacity. Its determination
is performed using historical inflow records in the stream at the proposed dam site. There are
several methods to determine a reservoir storage capacity. The most common ones are presented
below.

5.1 Mass curve (ripple's) method:

A mass curve (or mass inflow curve) is a plot of accumulated flow in a stream against time. As
indicated below a mass curve can be prepared from the flow hydrograph of a stream for a large
number of consecutive previous years. Figure 5.1 (a) shows a typical flow hydrograph of a
stream for six consecutive years. The area under the hydrograph from the starting year (i.e.,
1953) up to any time t1 (shown by hatching) represents the total quantity of water that has flown
through the stream from 1953 up to time t1 and hence it is equal to the ordinate of the mass curve
at time t1. The ordinates of mass curve corresponding to different times are thus determined and
plotted at the respective times to obtain the mass curve as shown in fig. 5.1(a). A mass curve
continuously rises as it shows accumulated flows. The slope of the curve at any point indicates
the rate of flow at that particular time. If there is no flow during certain period the curve will be
horizontal during that period.

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25000

20000
Cu mmu lative discharge

15000

10000

5000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
M onth

Mass curve Demand curve

Fig. 5.1: a) Mass curve

A demand curve (or mass curve of demand) on the other hand is a plot between accumulated
demand and time. If the demand is at a constant rate then the demand curve is a straight line
having its slope equal to the demand rate. However, if the demand is not constant then the
demand will be curved indicating a variable rate of demand.

Example: Reservoir Capacity determination by the use of flow duration curve. Determine the
reservoir capacity required if a hydropower plant is designed to operate at an average flow.
Solution: The average flow is 340.93 m3/s.
I) First options: Storage is same as the hatched area under flow duration curve.
Discharge %Exceeded or
(m3/s) Descending Order Rank Equaled
106.70 1200 1 8.33%
107.10 964.7 2 16.67%
148.20 497 3 25.00%
497.00 338.6 4 33.33%
1200.00 177.6 5 41.67%
964.70 148.2 6 50.00%
338.60 142.7 7 58.33%
177.60 141 8 66.67%
141.00 141 9 75.00%
141.00 126.6 10 83.33%
142.70 107.1 11 91.67%
126.60 106.7 12 100.00%

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(1) (2) (3) (1) -(3)

Ordinate of Flow Duration Curve %Exceded or Average
(m3/s) Equalled Flow Area
1200 8.33% 340.93 0.00 0.00
964.7 16.67% 340.93 0.00 0.00
497 25.00% 340.93 0.00 0.00
338.6 33.33% 340.93 2.33 6.90
177.6 41.67% 340.93 163.33 14.84
148.2 50.00% 340.93 192.73 16.29
142.7 58.33% 340.93 198.23 16.59
141 66.67% 340.93 199.93 16.66
141 75.00% 340.93 199.93 17.26
126.6 83.33% 340.93 214.33 18.67
107.1 91.67% 340.93 233.83 19.50
106.7 100.00% 340.93 234.23
1013.73
Storage (Mm3) 2662.61
nd
ii) 2 option (Mass Curve/Ripple's Diagram/Sequent Peak Algorithm.)
Monthly Monthly Average Average Cumulative
Month Flow Volume Flow Volume Departure Departure
Jan 106.70 280.25 340.93 895.47 -615.22 -615.22
Feb 107.10 281.30 340.93 895.47 -614.17 -1229.39
Mar 148.20 389.26 340.93 895.47 -506.22 -1735.60
Apr 497.00 1305.40 340.93 895.47 409.93 -1325.68
May 1200.00 3151.87 340.93 895.47 2256.40 930.72
Jun 964.70 2533.84 340.93 895.47 1638.37 2569.09
Jul 338.60 889.35 340.93 895.47 -6.12 2562.97
Aug 177.60 466.48 340.93 895.47 -429.00 2133.97

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Sep 141.00 370.34 340.93 895.47 -525.13 1608.85

Oct 141.00 370.34 340.93 895.47 -525.13 1083.72
Nov 142.70 374.81 340.93 895.47 -520.66 563.06
Dec 126.60 332.52 340.93 895.47 -562.95 0.11
ANS (Mm3) 2569.0

5.2 Reservoirs and sediments

A river entering a water reservoir will loose its capacity to transport sediments. The water
velocity decreases, together with the shear stress on the bed. The sediments will therefore deposit
in the reservoir and decrease its volume.

In the design of dam, it is important to assess the magnitude of sediment deposition in the
reservoir. The problem can be divided I two parts:
1 How much sediments enter the reservoir
2 What is the trap efficiency of the reservoir

In a detailed study, the sediment size distributions also have to be determined for question 1.
Question 2 may also involve determining the location of the deposits and the concentration and
grain size distribution of the sediments entering the water intakes.

In general, there are two approaches to the sedimentation problem:

1. The reservoir is constructed so large that it will take a very long time to fill. The
economical value of the project will thereby be maintained.
2. The reservoir is designed relatively small and the dam gates are constructed relatively
large, so that it is possible to remove the sediments regularly by flushing. The gates are
opened, lowering the water level in the reservoir, which increases the water velocity. The
sediment transport capacity is increased, causing erosion of the deposits.

A medium sized reservoir will be the least beneficial. Then it will take relatively short time to fill
the reservoir, and the size is so large that only a small part of the sediments are removed by
flushing.

The flushing has to be done while the water discharge in to the reservoir is relatively high. The
water will erode the deposits to a cross-stream magnitude similar to the normal width of the
river. A long and narrow reservoir will therefore be more effectively flushed than a short and
wide geometry. For the later, the sediment deposits may remain on the sides.

The flushing of a reservoir may be investigated by physical model studies.

Another question is the location of sediment deposits. Figure 5.2 shows a longitudinal profile of
the reservoir. There is a dead storage below the lowest level the water can be withdrawn. This
storage may be filled with sediments without affecting the operation of the reservoir.

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Figure 5.2: Longitudinal profile of a reservoir. HRW is the highest regulated water level. The
reservoir volume below LRW is called the dead storage, as this can be used.

5.3 Sediment Load Prediction

Rough estimates of sediment load may be taken from regional data. Often the sediment yield in
the area is known from neighboring catchments. It is then possible to assess the seriousness of
the erosion in the present catchment and estimate rough figures of sediment yield. The land use,
slope and size of the catchment are important factors.

For a more detailed assessment, measurements of the sediment concentration in the river have to
be used. Sediment concentrations are measured using standard sampling techniques, and water
discharges are recorded simultaneously. The measurements are taken at varying water
discharges. The values of water discharge and sediment concentrations are plotted on a graph,
and a rating curve is made. This is often on the form:

Qs is the sediment load, Qw is the water discharge and a and b are constants, obtained by curve
fitting

Figure 5.3: Example of sediment rating curve.

The annual average sediment transport is obtained by using a time series of the water discharge
over the year together with equation above.

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5.4 Designing Reservoir Capacity

Catchment Yield and Reservoir Yield

Long range runoff from a catchment is known as the yield of the catchment. Generally, a period
of one year is considered for determining the yield value. The total yearly runoff, expressed as
the volume of water entering / passing the outlet point of the catchment is thus known as the
catchment yield and is expressed in Mm3 or Mham.
The annual yield of the catchment up to the size of a reservoir, located at the given point along a
river, will thus indicate the quantum of water that will annually enter the reservoir, and will thus
help in designing the capacity of the reservoir. This will also help to fix the outflows from the
reservoir, since the outflows are dependent upon the inflows and the reservoir losses.
The amount of water that can be drawn from a reservoir, in any specified time interval, called the
reservoir yield, naturally depends upon the inflow into the reservoir and the reservoir losses
consisting of reservoir leakage and reservoir evaporation.
The annual inflow to the reservoir is called the catchment yield. It is represented by the mass
curve of inflow whereas; the outflow from the reservoir, called the reservoir yield is represented
by the mass demand lines or the mass curve of outflow. Both these curve divide the reservoir
capacity provided the reservoir losses are separately accounted.
The inflows to the reservoir are however, quite susceptible of variation in different years, and
may therefore, vary throughout the prospective life of the reservoir. The past available data of
rainfall or runoff in the catchment is therefore used to work out the optimum value of the
catchment yield. For example, in the past available records of say 35 years, the minimum yield
from the catchment in the worst rainfall year may be as low as say 100 Mham whereas, the
maximum yield in the best rainfall year may be as high as say 200 Mham. The question then
arises would be as to whether the reservoir capacity should correspond to 100 Mham yield or 200
Mham yield. If the reservoir capacity is provided corresponding to 100 Mham yield, then
eventually the reservoir will be filled up every year with a dependability of 100 %; but if the
capacity is provided corresponding to 200 Mham yield, then eventually the reservoir will be
filled up only in the best rainfall year (i.e. once in 35 years) with a dependability of 1 x100 = 3%
35
In order to obtain a sweet agreement a via media is generally adopted and an intermediate
dependability percentage value (P) such as 50 % to 75 % may be used to compute the
dependable yield or the design yield.
The yield which corresponds to the worse or the most critical year of record is, however, called
the firm yield or safe yield. Water available in excess of the firm yield during the years of higher
inflow, is designated as the secondary yield. Hydropower may be developed from such
secondary water, and sold to the industry “on and when available basis", The power
commitments to domestic consumers must, however, be based on the firm basis, should not
exceed the power which can be produced with the firm yield, unless thermal power is also
available to support the hydro electric power.

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The arithmetic average of the firm yield and the secondary yield is called the average yield.

Computing the design or the dependable catchment yield

The dependable yield, corresponding to a given dependability percentage, is determined from the
past available data of 35 years or so. The yearly rainfall data of the reservoir catchment is
generally used for this purpose, since such long runoff data, is rarely available. The rainfall data
of the past years is therefore used to work out the dependable rainfall value corresponding to the
given dependability percentage P. This dependable rainfall value is then converted into the
dependable runoff value by using the available empirical formulas connecting the yearly rainfall
with the yearly runoff.
It is, however, an adopted practice in irrigation departments to plan the reservoir project by
computing the dependable yield from the rainfall data, but to start river gauging as soon as the
site for reservoir is decided, and then correlate the rainfall runoff observations to verify the
correctness of the assumed empirical relation between the rainfall and the runoff. Sometimes, on
the basis of such observations, the initially assumed yield value may have to be revised.
The procedure which is adopted to compute the dependable rainfall value for a given
dependability percentage P is explained below, and has been further used in solving the
following example.
(i) The available rainfall data of the past N years is first of all arranged in the descending order
of magnitude.
(ii) The plotting position m, given by the equation
m = N. P
100
is then computed, and rainfall value corresponding to this order number (plotting position) in the
tabulated data will represent the required dependable rainfall value.
(iii) If the computed value of m is a fraction, then the arithmetic mean of the rainfall
values corresponding to whole number in values above and below this fraction value is
taken as the dependable rainfall value.
Example: The yearly rainfall data for the catchment of a proposed reservoir site for 35 years is
given in the following table. Compute from this data, the value of dependable rainfall
for a 60 % dependability percentage.

Year Rainfall Year Rainfall Year Rainfall Year Rainfall

(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1956 98 1965 66 1974 88 1983 102
1957 100 1966 184 1975 94 1984 80
1958 101 1967 90 1976 107 1985 109
1959 99 1968 76 1977 110 1986 122
1960 85 1969 118 1978 208 1987 115
1961 112 1970 86 1979 114 1988 140
1962 116 1971 92 1980 104 1989 138
1963 78 1972 96 1981 120 1990 60
1964 160 1973 93 1982 108

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Solution: The given data of above table is arranged in descending order, mentioning plotting
position m, in front of each as shown in the following table.

M Rainfall M Rainfall M Rainfall M Rainfall

(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1 208 10 115 19 101 28 88
2 184 11 114 20 100 29 86
3 160 12 112 21 99 30 85
4 140 13 110 22 98 31 80
5 138 14 109 23 96 32 78
6 122 15 108 24 94 33 76
7 120 16 107 25 93 34 66
8 118 17 104 26 92 35 60
9 116 18 102 27 90

Now, using the above equation for plotting position m, we put dependability percentage P = 60%
thus, m = N.P = 35 x 60 = 21
100 100

The rainfall value, tabulated in the above table at plotting position 21 is 99 cm and hence the
required dependable rainfall = 99 cm

Converting the dependable rainfall value into the dependable yields

Certain empirical relations are available for converting the yearly rainfall value for the given
catchment into the yearly runoff value expected from that catchment. Some of these formulas
are:
1. Binnie's Percentages
2. Strange's Tables
3. Barlow's Tables
4. Inglis Formula and
5. Khosla's Formula
These empirical relations are briefly discussed below:
1. Binnie's Percentages: The first effort ever made in India to connect the long range rainfall
and the runoff (yield) was from Sir Alexander Binnie. He made observations on two rivers in
the central provinces and worked out certain percentages to connect the monthly rainfall with
the monthly yield for the entire monsoon period from June to October. These percentages
have been further adjusted by Mr. Garret, and are given in following table. From the values
given in the following table the total monsoon rainfall V s percentage of rainfall that becomes
runoff are plotted in the following figure.

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Table 1: Binnie's Monsoon Yield Percentages (as adjusted by Garret)

Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon Monsoon

Rainfall (P) yield Rainfall (P) yield Rainfall (P) yield
(cm) (percentage) (cm) (percentage) (cm) (percentage)
25 7.0 85 31.0 122.5 43.7
30 9.0 90 33.0 125.0 44.4
35 11.0 95 35.0 127.5 45.0
40 13.0 100 37.0 130.0 45.6
45 15.0 102.5 37.9 132.5 46.2
50 17.0 105.0 38.7 135.0 46.8
55 19.0 107.5 39.5 137.5 47.3
60 21.0 110.0 40.3 140.0 47.9
65 23.0 112.5 41.0 142.5 48.4
70 25.0 115.0 41.7 145.0 49.0
75 27.0 117.5 42.4 147.5 49.5
80 29.0 120.0 43.1 150.0 50.0

60
Annual Rainfall (cm)

40
20
0

Runoff Volume (percent)

2. Strange's Percentages and Tables: Mr. W.L. Strange carried out investigations on catchment
in Bombay presidency, and worked out percentages for converting monsoon rainfall into
monsoon yield. He even worked out such percentages for converting daily rainfall into daily
runoff. It was an improvement over Binnie's tables, since he divided the catchment into three
categories to account for the general characteristics of the catchments. The catchment prove to
producing higher yields, such as those with more paved areas, etc were categorized as good
catchment and those prove to produce low yields were farmed as bad catchment, the
intermediate types were called average catchments. Different runoff percentages were given
for different types of catchments for different values of rainfall, as shown in the preceding
table those values have been drawn in the shape of curve as shown in the following figure.
Total monsoon trainfall (cm)

60
40
20
Good catchment
0
Average catchment
25 55 85 7.5 2.5 7.5 Bad catchment
1 0 1 2 13
Runoff Volume (percent)

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Table 2: Values of Strange's Run off Percentages

Monsoon Runoff Percentages for Monsoon Runoff Percentages for

Rainfall catchments designated as Rainfall catchments designated as
in cm Good Average Bad in cm Good Average Bad
25.0 4.3 3.2 2.1 107.5 40.9 30.6 20.4
30.0 6.2 4.6 3.1 110.0 42.0 31.5 21.0
35.0 8.3 6.2 4.1 112.5 43.1 32.3 21.5
40.0 10.5 7.8 5.2 115.0 44.3 33.2 22.1
45.0 12.8 9.6 6.4 117.5 45.4 34.0 23.2
50.0 15.0 11.3 7.5 120.0 46.5 34.8 23.8
55.0 17.3 12.9 8.6 122.5 47.6 35.7 23.8
60.0 18.5 14.6 9.7 125.0 48.8 36.6 24.4
65.0 21.8 16.3 10.9 127.5 49.9 37.4 24.9
70.0 24.0 18.0 12.0 130.0 51.0 38.2 25.5
75.0 26.3 19.7 13.1 132.5 52.0 39.0 26.0
80.0 28.5 21.3 14.2 135.0 53.3 39.9 26.6
85.0 30.8 23.1 15.4 137.5 54.4 40.8 27.2
90.0 33.0 24.7 16.5 140.0 55.5 41.6 27.7
95.0 35.3 26.4 17.6 142.5 56.6 42.4 28.3
100.0 37.5 28.1 18.7 145.0 57.8 43.4 28.9
102.5 38.5 28.9 19.3 147.5 58.9 44.1 29.4
105.0 39.5 29.8 19.9 150.0 60.0 45.0 30.0

3. Barlow's tables: Mr. T.G. Barlow carried out extensive investigation on catchments mostly
less than 130 square km in Uttar Pradesh state of India. On the basis of his investigations, he
divided catchments into five classes and the rainfall pattern of monsoon rainfall into 3 seasons
and assigned different percentages of rainfall that become runoff (over long periods) for each
class of catchment as indicated in the following table. (Season 1- Light rain, no heavy
downpour; Season 2- Average or varying rainfall, no continuous downpour; Season 3-
Continuous downpour)

Table 3: Values of Barlow's Runoff Percentages

Class of Runoff percentages (k)
Description of the Catchment
Catchment Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
A Flat, cultivated and black cotton soils 7 10 15
B Flat, partly cultivated various soils 12 15 18
C Average catchment 16 20 32
D Hills and plains with little cultivation 28 35 60
E Very hilly and steep with little or no cultivation 36 45 81

The above values of runoff percentages are for the average type of monsoons are to be
modified by the application of the following coefficients, according to the nature of the
season.

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Table 4: Values of Barlow’s coefficient to be multiplied with K values of Table 3 to

obtain True Runoff percentages

Class of Catchment
Nature of season
A B C D E
Light rain, no heavy down pour 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
Average or varying rainfall, no continuous down pour 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Continuous down pour 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8

4. Lacey's Formula: This formula connects the monsoon rainfall (P) with the yield (Q) by
the equation.
Yield (Q) = [ P ]
1 + 304.8 m
p. n
Where, m = a constant called monsoon duration factor, the values of which are given in table 5
n = a constant called catchment factor, the values of which are given for different
classes of catchment (as defined by Barlow) in table 6

Table 5: Values of m to be used in the above equation (Lacey's formula)

Sl No. Duration of monsoon Monsoon duration factor, m
1. Bad year 0.5
2. normal year 1.2
3. Good year 1.5

Table 6: values of n to be used in above equation (Lacey's formula)

Class of Values
Sl No Description of the catchment
catchment of n
1. A Flat cultivated, absorbent soils 0.25
2. B Flat, partly cultivated stiff soils 0.60
3. C Average catchments 1.00
4. D Hills and plains with little cultivation 1.70
5. E Very hilly and steep catchments with little or no cultivation 3.45

5. Inglis Formula: Inglis derived his formula for catchments of west Maharashtra state of
India. He divided the areas as ghat (valley) areas where rainfall is 200 cm or more and
non-ghat areas where rainfall is less than 200 cm. His formula:
(a) For valley area (ghat) with rainfall (P) equaling or exceeding 200 cm:
Yield = (0.85 P- 30.48) cm
Where P is the rainfall in cm
(b) For non-ghat (non - valley) area with rainfall P less than 200 cm:
Yield = P (P – 17.78) cm
254
Where P is the rainfall in cm

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6. Khosla Formula: His formula is based upon the recent research work conducted in the
field, and is a very simple and useful formula. It can be easily applied to the entire area
without bothering for the region of its origin. This formula states that:
Yield (Q) = P - 0.48 Tm
Where, Q = the yield in cm
P = the rainfall in cm
Tm = mean annual temperature of the area (0c)

Example: The design annual rainfall for the catchment of a proposed reservoir has been
computed to be 99 cm. The catchment area has been estimated to have a mean annual
temperature of 200c. The catchment area contributing to the proposed reservoir is
1000 sq.km. Calculate the annual design catchment yield for this reservoir. Make use
of Khosla's formula.
Solution: Use Khosla's formula connecting the design rainfall (P) with the design (Q) as:
Q = P - 0.48 Tm
Where, P = 99 cm (given)
Tm = 20 0c (given)
 Q = 99 - 0.48 x 20
= 89.4 cm = 0.894 m
The total yield produced in m3 from the given catchment of 1000 sq.km2 (1000 x 106 m2)
= 0.894 x 1000 x 106 m3
= 894 Mm3

Computing the Reservoir Capacity for the Computed values of the Dependable yield of the
Reservoir Catchment
After deciding the dependable yield for the proposed reservoir (tank), the reservoir capacity is
decided as follows:
The water demand (annual of course) is computed by estimating the crop water requirement
(including transit losses) and any other water demand required to meet the water supply needs, or
the downstream commitments of water release, if any. Reservoir losses at about 15 % of the
water demand is then added to obtain the live or the net storage required to meet the given
demand. The reservoir capacity, however, cannot exceed the catchment yield (inflow into the
reservoir), and hence the reservoir capacity is fixed at a value which is lesser of the value of the
assessed gross storage required to meet the demand and the assessed dependable yield for the
reservoir site. The full tank level (FTL) or the full reservoir level (FRL) is finally computed from
the elevation capacity curve.
The dead storage level or dead storage required in the above computation is usually fixed at
higher of the following values:
a) Dead storage = rate of silting x Life of the reservoir
b) Dead storage = 10% of storage or net water demand
c) Dead storage level being equal to the full supply level of the off taking canal at the tank
site.

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Example: The lowest portion of the capacity elevation curve of a proposed irrigation reservoir,
draining 20 km2 catchment, is represented by the following data:

Elevation in m Capacity in ha-m

RL 600 24.2
602 26.2
604 30.3
606 36.8
The rate of silting for the catchment has been assessed to be 300 m 3/km2/year. Assuming the life
of the reservoir to be 50 years,
(a) Compute the dead storage, and the lowest sill level (LSL), if the main canal is 6 km long with
a bed slope of 1 in 1000, and the canal bed level at the tail end is at RL594.5 m. The FSD of
the canal at the head is 80 cm. The crop water requirement is assessed as 250 ha.m.
(b) If the dependable yield of the catchment is estimated to be 0.29 m, what will be the gross
capacity of the reservoir?
Solution: The dead storage is first of all computed as maximum of the following three values:
a) Dead storage = rate of silting x life of the reservoir
= 300 x 20 x 50 = 300000 m3 = 30 ha.m
b) Dead storage = 10% x net water demand or crop water requirement
= 10 x 250 = 25 ha m
100
c) Dead storage level = FSL of canal at head works
= 594.5 + (6 x 1000) x 1 + 0.8 = 601.4 m
1000
Dead storage capacity at RL 601.4 m is interpolated
= 25.6 ha.m
The dead storage is fixed at maximum of the three values obtained at (i), (ii) and (iii) above, i.e.
30 ham, 25 ham and 25.6 ham. Hence choose the dead storage at 30ha.m The LSL (X)
corresponds to 30 - ham capacity, which is computed as:
30 = 26.2 + (30.3 – 26.2) x (X – 602)
(604 – 602)
or, 30 – 26.2 = 4.1 (X – 602)
2
3.8 = 4.1 (X – 602) or, X – 602 = 3.8 x 2 = 1.85
2 4.1
Therefore, X = RL 603.85 m
The lowest sill level i.e. dead storage level is thus fixed at R.L. 603.85 m.
b) Net water demand = crop water requirement including transit losses = 250 ha.m
Reservoir Losses = 15 % x 250 = 37.5 ha.m
Live storage required to meet the given demand = (250 + 37.5) = 287.5 ham.
Dead storage = 30 ha.m (computed above)

Gross reservoir storage required = Live storage + Dead storage

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 Engineering Hydrology; Lecture Note

= 287.5 + 30 = 317.5 ha.m

Dependable yield = 0.29 m
= 0.29 x 20 x106m3
= 580 ha.m
The gross capacity of the reservoir is fixed at the lesser of the gross storage to meet the
demand (ie. 317.5 ham) and the dependable yield (i.e. 580 ha.m)
Hence the reservoir capacity = 317.5 ham
Relation between inflow, outflow and storage Data for a Reservoir
The inflows to the reservoir and outflow from the reservoir are the only two factors which
govern the storage capacity of a reservoir. Since the inflow to the reservoir is variable, water is
stored in the reservoir to cater to the required outflow from the reservoir, particularly during the
critical periods in non-monsoon season. Naturally if more outflows are required, more capacity
has to be provided.
As a matter of fact, after assessing the monthly or annual inflows into the reservoir and
representing it by the mass inflow curve, the demand pattern is specified. The reservoir is then
usually designed to meet this specified demand, represented by the mass outflow curve.
The reservoir capacity, the reservoir inflow, and the outflow from the reservoir are governed by
the storage equation, given by:
Inflow - Outflow = Increase in storage

 Increase in Reservoir storage = Inflow - Outflow

Fixing the Reservoir capacity from the annual inflow and outflow Data
The capacity of reservoir may be determined by determining the storage needed to accommodate
the given inflow minus the given outflow, as governed by the above equation. However, this
study involves numerous factors, as discussed below:
Stream flow data at the reservoir site must be known. Monthly inflow rates are sufficient for
large reservoirs, but daily data may be required for small reservoirs. When the inflow data at the
dam site are not available, the data at a station elsewhere on the stream or on a nearby stream
may be collected and adjusted to the dam site. The available data may sometimes be extended so
as to include a really drought period.
Besides determining the stream flow data at the dam site, an adjustment has to be made for the
water required to be passed from the reservoir to satisfy the prior water rights and to obey the
agreements between various sharing States through which river is passing.
Moreover, the construction of a reservoir increases the exposed area of the water surface above
that of the natural stream, and thus, increases the evaporation losses. There is, thus, a net of water
occurring due to reservoir construction. Sometimes, these losses may be so huge that the entire
purpose of the reservoir may be defeated. Seepage from the reservoir may also add to the loss
resulting from the reservoir.

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 Engineering Hydrology; Lecture Note

All these factors make this study very complex. An approximate easy solution for determining
the reservoir capacity may be obtained graphically with the help of mass curve. On the other
hand, a tabular solution is necessary in order to account for all important factors.
Example: Monthly inflow rates during a low water period at a site of a proposed dam are
tabulated in col.2 of the following table (Table 7). The corresponding monthly pan
evaporation and precipitation at a nearby station are also tabulated in col.3 and col.4
of the same table. Prior water rights make it obligatory to release the full natural flow
or 15 ha.m per month whichever is minimum. If the estimated monthly demands are
as given in col.5 and the net increased pool area is 400-ha, find the required storage
capacity for the reservoir. Assume pan evaporation coefficient = 0.7 and also assume
that only 28% of the rainfall on the land area to be flooded by reservoir has reached
the stream in the past.

Table – 7
Inflow at dam site Precipitation Demand (ha-
Month Pan evaporation (cm)
(ha-m) (cm) m)
1 2 3 4 5
January 1.2 1.8 1.3 15.8
February 0.0 1.8 1.7 14.3
March 0.0 2.6 0.6 9.6
April 0.0 10.2 0.0 4.8
May 0.0 15.4 0.0 3.5
June 0.0 1.6 1.1 3.4
July 240.0 10.8 16.1 5.0
August 480.0 11.7 16.4 5.0
September 1.0 10.8 2.2 10.0
October 0.6 9.6 0.8 15.6
November 0.5 7.8 0.0 16.8
December 0.2 2.0 0.0 16.8
Σ 723.5 101.1 40.2 120.6
Solution: Table.7 is extended as shown in Table.8. The 28% precipitation is already reaching
and is included in the given inflow [col.2], and hence, only 72% of the precipitation is to be
included and worked out in col.8. The Table is otherwise self explanatory and the monthly water
drawn from the reservoir is worked out in col.10. Finally their summation (i.e.308.21 ha-m)
works out to be the required storage capacity of the reservoir.
Table 8
Requirement due Evaporation (ha- Adjusted Water required
Precipitation (ha-m)
Inflow atPan to prior rights m), inflow col.2 + from storage (ha-
Precipitati Demand 400xcol.4 x 0.72
Month dam siteevaporation equal to col.2 or 15 400 x col.3 x 0.7 col.8-col.6- m) col.5- col.9
on (cm) (ha-m) 100
(ha-m) (cm) ha-m whichever is 100 col.7 (only positive
= 2.88x col.4
less = 2.8 x col.3 (ha-m) values)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Jan. 1.2 1.8 1.3 15.8 1.2 5.03 3.74 (-) 1.29 17.09
Feb. 0.0 1.8 1.7 14.3 0.0 5.03 4.9 (-) 0.13 14.43
Mar. 0.0 2.6 0.6 9.6 0.0 7.28 1.73 (-) 5.55 15.15
Apr. 0.0 10.2 0.0 4.8 0.0 28.56 0.0 (-) 28.56 33.36
May 0.0 15.4 0.0 3.5 0.0 43.1 0.0 (-) 43.1 46.60
Jun. 0.0 16.6 1.1 3.4 0.0 46.4 3.17 (-) 43.23 46.63
Jul. 240.0 10.8 16.1 5.0 15.0 30.3 46.4 (+)241.1 NIL
Aug 480.0 11.7 16.4 5.0 15.0 32.8 47.3 (+)479.5 NIL
Sep. 1.0 10.8 2.2 10.0 1.0 30.3 6.34 (-)23.96 33.96
Oct. 0.6 9.6 0.8 15.6 0.6 26.9 2.31 (-)24.39 39.99
Nov 0.5 7.8 0.0 16.8 0.5 21.8 0.0 (-)21.8 38.60
Dec. 0.2 2.0 0.0 16.8 0.2 5.6 0.0 (-)5.6 22.40
Σ 723.5 101.1 40.2 120.6 33.5 283.1 116.49 308.21

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Lecture Note