Introduction

Reservoirs play a crucial role in water resource management, but significant water loss due to evaporation poses challenges, particularly in arid regions.

Nature And Magnitude Of Reservoir Evaporation

This section discusses the significance, factors, and methodologies involved in quantifying evaporation losses from reservoirs.

Definition

Reservoir evaporation is the continuous loss of water from a reservoir's surface to the atmosphere due to evaporation and vapor transport.

Factors Influencing Reservoir Evaporation

This section discusses the various factors influencing reservoir evaporation, including climatic, reservoir-specific, and geographical characteristics.

Climatic Factors

Climatic factors play a critical role in reservoir evaporation, influencing the rate at which water is lost to the atmosphere.

Reservoir Characteristics

This section discusses factors influencing reservoir evaporation, including climatic, geographical, and reservoir-specific characteristics.

Geographical And Environmental Factors

This section explores the geographical and environmental factors influencing reservoir evaporation.

Quantification Of Reservoir Evaporation

This section discusses methods for estimating water loss due to evaporation from reservoirs, essential for efficient water resource management.

Methods Of Estimating Reservoir Evaporation

This section outlines various methods to estimate evaporation from reservoirs, crucial for managing water resources effectively.

Pan Evaporation Method

The Pan Evaporation Method is a widely used technique for estimating reservoir evaporation by using measured data from evaporation pans.

Water Budget Method

The Water Budget Method estimates reservoir evaporation based on mass balance, accounting for inflow, precipitation, outflow, and changes in storage.

Energy Budget Method

The Energy Budget Method estimates reservoir evaporation by analyzing heat fluxes affecting the water surface.

Combination Method (Penman Method)

The Combination Method, also known as the Penman Method, estimates reservoir evaporation by integrating energy and aerodynamic factors.

Remote Sensing And Gis-Based Estimation

Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Estimation applies satellite-derived data to estimate reservoir evaporation, enabling spatially distributed evaporation mapping.

Impacts Of Reservoir Evaporation

Reservoir evaporation leads to significant water resource loss, economic implications, and environmental impacts.

Water Resource Loss

Water resource loss due to evaporation from reservoirs poses significant challenges to sustainable water management.

Altered Storage Planning

Altered storage planning in reservoirs helps in minimizing water losses due to evaporation by enhancing operational strategies and infrastructure.

Economic Implications

This section discusses the economic effects of water evaporation from reservoirs, highlighting the financial losses and their broader impact on water resource management.

Environmental Effects

This section discusses the environmental effects of reservoir evaporation, highlighting its impact on water availability, project economics, and water quality.

Methods For Reducing Reservoir Evaporation

This section discusses various engineering and environmental strategies designed to minimize water loss due to evaporation in reservoirs.

Surface Cover Methods

Surface cover methods are strategies employed to reduce evaporation from reservoirs, including floating covers and wind breaks.

Floating Covers (Monomolecular Films)

This section discusses the application, advantages, and limitations of monomolecular films as a method to reduce reservoir evaporation.

Floating Plastic Modules

Floating plastic modules are an innovative method to reduce evaporation from reservoirs by covering the surface with interlocked plastic structures.

Wind Breaks And Shelterbelts

Wind breaks and shelterbelts are vegetative or structural barriers that help reduce wind velocity around reservoirs to minimize evaporation losses.

Deepening Of Reservoirs

Deepening of reservoirs reduces evaporation by decreasing the surface area exposed to air, although it can be cost-prohibitive.

Use Of Underground Reservoirs (Subsurface Storage)

This section discusses the concept of underground reservoirs, highlighting their role in reducing water evaporation by storing water below the surface.

Operational Adjustments

This section discusses operational adjustments to manage water levels and usage in reservoirs to minimize evaporation losses.

Use Of Shade Covers And Floating Pv Panels

This section discusses the innovative use of shade covers and floating photovoltaic (PV) panels as methods to reduce evaporation from reservoirs while providing additional benefits such as power generation.

Comparative Evaluation Of Evaporation Reduction Methods

This section compares various methods of reducing evaporation from reservoirs based on their effectiveness, cost, environmental impact, and applicability.

Case Studies And Practical Implementations

This section presents specific case studies and real-world implementations related to reservoir evaporation management.

Indira Sagar Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh)

The Indira Sagar Reservoir, located in Madhya Pradesh, experiences significant evaporation losses estimated at about 2.3 meters annually, necessitating the use of meteorological methods and strategies for evaporation reduction.

Pilot Study On Floating Covers – Maharashtra

This section discusses a pilot study conducted in Maharashtra that evaluated the efficacy of floating covers for reducing evaporation from reservoirs.

Ntpc Simhadri Floating Solar Project

The NTPC Simhadri Floating Solar Project is a 25 MW initiative demonstrating the effectiveness of floating solar technology in reducing water evaporation while generating renewable energy.