HELP! How do dams and reservoirs make a water supply network that gets water to everyone. How does it work ?

Question

I basically want to know the details about how water goes from a dam / reservoir to a household or irrigation. PIPES? OTHER THINGS?


THANK YOU!

Answer 1

Dams are constructed to hold back vast quantities of water in reservoirs. Sometimes water is released from one reservoir in order to supply smaller reservoirs closer to the towns and cities that will ultimately be supplied with the water.

Often reservoirs are at higher altitudes than the towns and cities to which the water is delivered. In these cases water flows through the network of pipes under the influence of gravity.

Where the network of pipes is long or there is little or negative elevation between dam and delivery point then pumps are installed along the pipes to force the water through the pipes.

At the head of the pipe will be a filter to prevent logs, branches, fish etc entering the pipe and then somewhere along the supply line, usually close to the point of delivery, will be a water treatment works which filters out all the foreign material and (in developed countries) purifies the water so it is safe for human consumption.

Water used for irregation doesn't need cleaning in the same way that our water supply does, often irregation channels are dug so they are filled directly from nearby streams and rivers. In some cases water is diverted from a reservoir into pipes or culverts in order to move it from where it is to where it's needed.

Answer 2

Yes dear.

Canals, at times. When you have a need for a lot of water and the terrain is flat, a canal can be used. Irrigation of crops is often done by canals.
Otherwise: Either pipes are used; or the electricity from the dam is transported to a local pumping and cleaning plant, or a desalination plant, to generate sweet water where it's needed..

Answer 3

Dams do hold back the water and allow a large area to be flooded. In most cases pumps are connected to the water source and pumped form there to a water treatment plant. The treatment removes any bad stuff and brings the water up to state/federal drinking water standards. The water is then piped from there to your home. Along the way fire hydrants are installed for fire protection and water towers or booster stations are installed to give a back up supply in case of emergency or if the town temporary uses more than it's producing