← Decision Patterns Water Supply
What problem does this solve?
Reservoir operators must balance competing needs: storing water for dry periods, maintaining flood capacity, and releasing enough to keep rivers healthy.
How it works
Operating rules and models guide how much water to store, release, or transfer based on current levels, weather forecasts, and downstream needs.
Typical infrastructure
Dams, spillways, outlet works, inter-reservoir transfer systems
Typical monitoring
Reservoir level sensors, inflow gauges, weather forecasts, downstream demand data
Strengths
Maximises the value of existing storage; balances multiple objectives; can adapt to changing conditions
Trade-offs
Optimisation depends on accurate forecasts; sedimentation reduces capacity over time; climate change may invalidate historical operating rules
Related use cases
Operational scenarios where this pattern is applied:
Case studies
Real-world examples of this pattern in action: