2012

Dam and Their role

Sub by- Jay suman 6TH SEM CUJ1/1/2012/IMBA/8

Water resources Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of waterinclude agricultural, industrial,household, recreational and environmental activ ities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water. 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water.However, only three percent is fresh water; slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground or in the air. Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing. Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world and as the world population continues to rise, so too does the water demand. Awareness of the global importance of preserving water for ecosystem services has only recently emerged as, during the 20th century, more than half the worlds wetlands have been lost along with their valuable environmental services for Water Education. The framework for allocating water resources to water users is known as water rights.

Distribution of Water Resources Global distribution of water resources varies greatly by region. Climate, topography, geology, hydrology, upstream water usage, and historic water usage all come into play in determining the availability of water in any given region.

This is not to say that everyone in these water rich areas has consistent, affordable, quality water that is assured to them.

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Dam Uses Peru, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar are examples of this What is a dam? A dam is a structure built across a stream, river or estuary to retain water. There is no unique way to retain water, which is why we see many different shapes for dams. Some dams are tall and thin, while others are short and thick. Dams are made from a variety of materials such as rock, steel and wood. We will concentrate on dams made from concrete, a complex material, because it is important for the construction of large dams.

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Types of Large Dams

Gravity dams Arch dams Buttress dams Gravity Dams use their triangular shape and the sheer weight of their rock and concrete structure to hold back the water in the reservoir.

Gravity dams are the most common type of large dam in the world because they are easy and cheap to build. They can also be built across long distances over relatively flat terrain. This makes them very applicable in non-mountainous regions. The largest gravity dam in the world is the Aswan Dam in Egypt. Arch Dams utilize the strength of an arch to displace the load of water behind it onto the rock walls that it is built into.

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 Buttress Dams use multiple reinforced columns to support a dam that has a relatively thin structure. Because of this, these dams often use half as much concrete as gravity dams

Composite dams are combinations of one or more dam types. Most often a large section of a dam will be either an embankment or gravity dam, with the section responsible for power generation being a buttress or arch.
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USAGE OF DAM Direct Water Usage: Private / Domestic - Household purposes, Drinking water and landscape irrigation Commercial - Restaurants, hotels, golf courses, etc. Irrigation Crop use. Water needs at the scale that large dams provide most often feed industrial farming practices. Livestock Use for animal raising as well as other on-farm needs Industrial Cooling water (power generation, refineries, chemical plants), processing water (manufacturing; pulp and paper, food, high tech, etc.) Mining hydraulic mining, various processes, settling ponds General public supply Firefighting, public parks, municipal office buildings

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Indirect Uses: Hydroelectric Power Power generation is one of the most common purposes for the construction of large dams. It is promoted as a totally clean form of electricity. Flood Control Dams even out the peaks and lows of a rivers natural flow cycle by calming seasonal flooding, then storing that water for gradual release year round. Transportation Dam locks are used to move ships past large dams. This in conjunction with flood control make transportation feasible on rivers that were

IMPACT

Physical Impacts of Large Dams The physical impacts of large scale dams fall into several categories Upstream On-site Downstream Global Scale Physical Impacts: Upstream Loss of Land Destruction of peoples property in the reservoir zone. Loss of possible agricultural, range or forest lands. Stagnant Water Table: Water from unnatural reservoirs seeps down into the water table. This excess water can overload the natural water table, slowing down its flow, so that it ultimately may go stale. This can be damaging to surrounding flora, and has the potential to harm the well water of surrounding peoples. Habitat Destruction : The area that is covered by the reservoir is destroyed, killing whatever habitat existed there beforehand.

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 Habitat destruction also happens far upstream from a dam. Migratory fish can no longer travel upstream past large dams in order to reach their spawning grounds. Physical Impacts: On-site Change in Water Characteristics Temperature Large reservoir of water heat up as more water is exposed to the sun for longer periods of time. Aquatic life that is sensitive to temperature cannot adjust to this change in their aquatic climate. Salinity The rise in a rivers salinity due an unnatural reservoir is due to increased evaporation rates. Sediment Load Sediments that wash down the river settle into large reservoirs. In rivers that have high sediment loads this usually determines the life Nutrient content Natural nutrients build up in reservoirs, causing eutrophication. O2 content each of these elements results in a lower oxygen content, further harming aquatic life. On-site Dust, Noise pollution from Construction Water Pollution Industrial and residential pollutants, as well as agricultural runnoff (including high nitrate loads, fertilizers and pesticides). On lake sources such as boats and jet skis add oil and other chemical pollutants to waste water. These chemicals build up to toxic levels in reservoirs, especially during dry seasons when little water leaves. Habitat Destruction Loss of local ecosystem covered by the reservoir. Damage caused by improved access to humans: roads, transmission lines, increased migration Exotic species introduction Aggressive, non-native species of fish are often introduced to reservoirs for farming and sport fishing.

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 Disease Vector borne diseases increase in tropical areas due to the creation of large areas of still water. This encourages mosquito breeding, the main vector for the transmission of malaria and dengue. Schistostomaiasis is a water borne disease that comes from snails that breed on the upstream side of dams. Physical Impacts: Downstream Flow Reduction: The downstream impacts of the net flow reduction due to extraction upstream can be extensive. They include habitat destruction far downstream at the mouth of the river, natural water table reduction. Change in water characteristics: The changes in water characteristics that are mentioned above continues in the water that is discharged downstream. The cumulative effect of many dams on a single river magnifies each of these factors. Change in natural flood patterns: Natural floods inundate downstream regions with nutrient rich sediments. Traditional farming systems in countries like Egypt (the Nile) and Bangladesh (the Ganges) were dependant upon seasonal floods to wash nutrient rich sediment upon the lower shores of the river. They also seasonally clear out blocked waterways, which prevents larger floods from causing massive damage. Social Impacts: Access to Water Price of Water Quality of Water Displacement When dams are constructed in populated areas, many people are forced to relocate. Established communities are dispersed and often destroyed. The communities that are forced to absorb the influx of displaced people are strained to their maximum capacity.

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 The mass majority of people that are displaced by dam construction are poor. The cost of moving is often placed upon the people being uprooted. This is extremely hard for poor, marginalized people to accomplish, and often leaves them poorer than before. This is especially true for small agricultural communities that, now forced into the urban settlements and its subsequent infrastructure, have no viable job skills in order to provide a living wage for themselves. Because of limits to space and resources, people are often forced to move long distances from their original homes. This, coupled with the hard transition into urban areas, often destroys traditional cultures. Because of limits to space and resources, people are often forced to move long distances from their original homes. This, coupled with the hard transition into urban areas, often destroys traditional cultures. Social Impacts: International International water conflicts occur in regions where rivers cross the borders of one or more nations. Violent conflict has the possibility to occur when one country overdraws its share of the water, causing detrimental effects in the downstream countries Rivers that have ongoing conflicts: The Nile The Ganges The River Jordan The Colorado The Parana The purposes of dams Most of the dams are single-purpose dams, but there is now a growing number of multipurpose dams. Using the most recent publication of the World Register of Dams, irrigation is by far the most common purpose of dams. Among the single purpose dams, 48 % are for irrigation, 17% for hydropower (production of electricity), 13% for water supply , 10% for flood control, 5% for recreation and less than 1% for navigation and fish farming.

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Irrigation:

Presently, irrigated land covers about 277 million hectares i.e. about 18% of world's arable land but is responsible for around 40% of crop output and employs nearly 30% of population spread over rural areas. With the large population growth expected for the next decades, irrigation must be expanded to increase the food capacity production. It is estimated that 80% of additional food production by the year 2025 will need to come from irrigated land. Even with the widespread measures to conserve water by improvements in irrigation technology, the construction of more reservoir projects will be required.

Hydropower:

Hydroelectric power plants generally range in size from several hundred kilowatts to several hundred megawatts, but a few enormous plants have capacities near 10,000 megawatts in order to supply electricity to millions of people. World hydroelectric power plants have a combined capacity of 675,000 megawatts that produces over 2.3 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year; supplying 24 percent of the world's electricity. In many countries, hydroelectric power provides nearly all of the electrical power. In 1998, the hydroelectric plants of Norway and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) provided 99 percent of each country's power; and hydroelectric plants in Brazil provided 91 percent of total used electricity.
Electricity generated from dams is by very far the largest renewable energy source in the world. More than 90% of the world's renewable electricity comes from dams. Hydropower also offers unique possibilities to manage the power network by its ability to quickly respond to peak demands. Pumping-storage plants, using power produced during the night, while the demand is low, is used to pump water up to the higher reservoir. That water is then used during the peak demand period to produce electricity. This system today constitute the only economic mass storage available for electricity. Water supply for domestic and industrial use:

It has been stressed how essential water is for our civilization. It is important to remember that of the total rainfall falling on the earth, most falls on the sea and a large portion of that which falls on earth ends up as runoff. Only 2% of the total is infiltrated to replenish the groundwater. Properly planned, designed and constructed and maintained dams to store water contribute significantly toward fulfilling our water supply requirements. To accommodate the variations in the hydrologic cycle, dams and reservoirs are needed to store water and then provide more consistent supplies during shortages.

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ndustry facilities like this power plant need million of litters per day. A city like Mumbai in India (16 million inhabitants) need 4300 millions of litters per day (lpd) Melbourne in Australia (4million inhabitants) needs around 1000 millions lpd and Paris in France needs some 700 millions lpd. In each of thes examples, water would not be provided without dam Inland navigation: Natural river conditions, such as changes in the flow rate and river level, ice and changing river channels due to erosion and sedimentation, create major problems and obstacles for inland navigation. The advantages of inland navigation, however, when compared with highway and rail are the large load carrying capacity of each barge, the ability to handle cargo with large-dimensions and fuel savings. Enhanced inland navigation is a result of comprehensive basin planning and development utilizing dams, locks and reservoirs which are regulated to provide a vital role in realizing regional and national economic benefits. In addition to the economic benefits, a river that has been developed with dams and reservoirs for navigation may also provide additional benefits of flood control, reduced erosion, stabilized groundwater levels throughout the system and recreation. Flood control:
Dams and reservoirs can be effectively used to regulate river levels and flooding downstream of the dam by temporarily storing the flood volume and releasing it later. The most effective method of flood control is accomplished by an integrated water management plan for regulating the storage and discharges of each of the main dams located in a river basin. Each dam is operated by a specific water control plan for routing floods through the basin without damage. This means lowering of the reservoir level to create more storage before the rainy season. This strategy eliminates flooding. The number of dams and their water control management plans are established by comprehensive planning for economic development and with public involvement. Flood control is a significant purpose for many of the existing dams and continues as a main purpose for some of the major dams of the world currently under construction.

ROLE

Role

Example

Power generation

Hydroelectric power is a major source of electricity in the world. Many countries that have rivers with adequate water flow, that can be dammed for power generation purposes.

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Water supply

Many urban areas of the world are supplied with water abstracted from rivers pent up behind low dams or weirs.

Stabilize water Dams are often used to control and stabilize water flow, often flow / for agricultural purposes and irrigation. irrigation Flood prevention Land reclamation Dams such as the Blackwater dam of Webster, New Hampshire and the Delta Works are created with flood control in mind. Dams are used to prevent ingress of water to an area that would otherwise be submerged, allowing its reclamation for human use. A typically small dam used to divert water for irrigation, power generation, or other uses, with usually no other function. Occasionally, they are used to divert water to another drainage or reservoir to increase flow there and improve water use in that particular area. See: diversion dam. Dams create deep reservoirs and can also vary the flow of water downstream. This can in return affect upstream and downstream navigation by altering the river's depth. Deeper water increases or creates freedom of movement for water vessels. Large dams can serve this purpose but most often weirs and locks are used.

Water diversion

Navigation

Recreation and aquatic beauty

Dams built for any of the above purposes may find themselves displaced by time of their original uses. Nevertheless the local community may have come to enjoy the reservoir for recreational and aesthetic reasons. Often the reservoir will be placid and surrounded by greenery, and convey to visitors a natural sense of rest and relax

EXAMPLE After independence we have made lots of progress in Dam and water reservoirs, Now India is one of the worlds most prolific dam-builders. Around 4300 large dams already constructed and many more in the pipeline, Almost half of which are more than twenty years old. These dams are major attraction of tourists from all over India. Some facts about the Indian dams are: Tehri Dam is the eighth highest dam in
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the world. The Idukki dam is the first Indian arch dam in Periyar River Kerala and the largest arch dam in Asia. The Grand Anicut, Kallanai, located on Holy Cavery River in Tamil Nadu, is the oldest dam in the world. Indira Sagar Dam is the Largest Reservoir in India. These dams with the channel provides an ideal environment for wildlife. Tehri Dam: Tehri Dam located on the Bhagirathi River, Uttaranchal Now become Uttarakhand. Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India,With a height of 261 meters and the eighth tallest dam in the world. The high rock and earth-fill embankment dam first phase was completed in 2006 and other two phases are under construction. The Dam water reservoir use for irrigation, municipal water supply and the generation of 1,000 MW of hydroelectricity.

Bhakra Nangal Dam: Bhakra Nangal Dam is a gravity dam across the sutlej river Himachal Pradesh. Bhakra Nangal is the largest dam in India, with a height of 225 meters and second largest Dam in Asia. Its reservoir, known as the Gobind Sagar Lake it is the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar dam.

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Hirakud Dam: Hirakud dam built across the Mahanadi River in tribal state Orissa. Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world about 26 km in length. There are two observation towers on the dam one is Gandhi Minar and another one is Nehru Minar. The Hirakud Reservoir is 55 km long used as multipurpose scheme intended for flood control, irrigation and power generation. It was one of the major multipurpose river valley project after Independence.

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