ENGINEERING WATER DISTRIBUTION

BENEFITS OF RESERVOIRS:

• Direct water supply

• Potential to produce hydroelectricity

• Controlling downstream water supply

• Provides irrigation

• Allows flood control

• Guarantees the water levels in canals

• Water can be released to create artificial white water conditions for kayaking

• Can be used to balance the flow in highly managed systems

• Production of hydroelectricity instead of usage of fossil fuels reduces production of greenhouse gases so lessens the effect of climate change

CONCERNS:

• Reservoir failures can generate huge increases in flow down a river valley e.g. dam failure at Llyn Eigiau, which killed 17 people

• Greenhouse gas production associated with concrete manufacture

• Dams can block the path of migrating fish and can flood various ecosystems; causing extinctions

• Dams can reduce the amount of water reaching downstream countries which has caused conflicts, e.r.g between Sudan and Egypt, as this can damage farming businesses downstream

• Can trigger seismic events

• Can seriously affect local microclimates; often increasing the humidity and reducing extremes of temperature.