GB2417047A - System for the management of water resources - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for the management of water resources comprises the installation of a plurality of reinforced concrete tanks along one side of a water reservoir. The tanks would be able to receive water during flood conditions and to release such water during drought conditions.

Description

r 1 241 7047

AQUAMANSYS

This is a process system for the management of water resources, for incorporation as part of the construction of a water storage reservoir created by the construction of a dam across a river or exit from a lake or other similar watercourse.

This process system enables the organised access to, and process of, sources of usable water, within a locality in times of drought or any serious shortage of water flow into the reservoir concerned, from its normal area of catchment. These sources of water, being in the main, outwith the normal catchment accessible to the reservoir concerned.

This process system would be applicable where there is a requirement in the locality for at least one if not all uses of water, such as domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or fire fighting.

This process system would be applicable where a reservoir is to be created, whether for the supply of usable water as above, or for the dual purpose of this same in combination with the generation of electrical energy.

To add this process system into an existing storage reservoir, could in many situations be impractical, although possibly not in all cases.

The most advantageous use of this process system, would be for inclusion, when a flood alleviation storage area is to be formed. That is, in essence, to combine the means of assisting drought alleviation with the means of assisting flood alleviation.

In recent times there would appear to have been an increasing frequency world side of extremes of flooding and of drought. These opposite conditions often occurring in the same localities, and all the scientific predictions would seem to indicate a worsening of these conditions and occurrences.

Where flood alleviation storage is proposed, this would normally be achieved by forming a dam across the watercourse concerned, thereby becoming a reservoir in times of flood potential, but otherwise remaining empty at all other times with the watercourse virtually unimpeded in its passage.

To be effective this form of flood alleviation must be of ample scale, and possibly even comprise of multiple storages, all strategically located to significantly reduce if not eliminate the hazards of downstream flooding. The intention being that controlled release of this stored water would be carried out over a suitable period in a manner not to overburden the downstream watercourse.

One additional advantage of this type of storage is that it can greatly assist in dissipating the destructive energy of the descending waters from upstream of the storage. This being particularly relevant where major overspill and forced drain-off from upstream reservoirs could occur.

In many locations flood alleviation by this form of storage, may have been, and may in the future be, the only viable means of reducing the downstream hazard of flooding.

There is an inherent dilemma for the authorities faced with establishing flood alleviation storage schemes, independent of whether these be for single or multiple storages, as each of these would render large areas of land useless for any form of habitation, normal agriculture or profitable commerce, and indeed would be virtually sterile.

Some considerable cost will be incurred in completing such provisions, which must be robust and secure and ample to meet all foreseeable conditions. All of these considerations have to be equated against the resultant relief from the trauma, hazards, destruction and costs otherwise incurred in downstream areas.

This process system proposes that a number of tanks be formed of reinforced concrete along one side of a storage reservoir, ideally but not necessarily essential at the same time as the construction of the relevant dam.

AQUAMANSYS

Each tank would have a specific function and should advantageously be subdivided into two Each tank sub-division to be designed to contain water, independent and secure from crossover from any other tank, or tank subdivision, or from crossover from any adjacent ground surface water or that of the associated storage reservoir.

Each tank sub-division to be so arranged as to spill-over into its associated storage reservoir, even should this reservoir be full to capacity.

Each tank sub-division to be so arranged as to be capable of draining to an empty state for the purpose of maintenance, cleaning and de-silting. In the case of its function in a flood alleviation storage this could be achieved by the provision of an open drainage channel, external to, and common to all tank sub-divisions, and to be formed during the tank construction. This channel should continue towards the main watercourse pass through point of the flood alleviation storage dam, and would also serve to suitably contain and route spill-over from any of the tanks, when the storage reservoir is empty or near empty. In the case of its function in a non-flood alleviation storage, this would require to be achieved by the provision of a drainage conduit, formed during the tanks construction, and suitably continued to outwith the downstream face of the storage dam, and if necessary, to join the watercourse after this point. The requirement for channelling tank spill-over would in this case not apply.

In both cases the means of drainage should effectively prevent back-feed and ensure a secure seal when closed. As the removal of silt would be a prime function of this channel or conduit, it may be considered necessary to incorporate a means of mechanical conveying, at least within the conduit.

A service roadway would be constructed to access the length of these tanks, to serve all operational and maintenance functions.

The number of these tanks that would be required in each case, and the dimensions and constructional detail of same, will depend on the scale of the whole project, the number and scope of the individual and distinct water sources, and the scale of the requirement for useable water.

All the pipe works and controls associated with the water input to, and outflow from, these tanks, should be considered as part of the construction design to best satisfy environmental and aesthetic objectives, and essentially to provide the best conditions for operation safety and maintenance access.

This could take the form of mostly visible pipe work in a pipe channel or on a pipe gantry, or part of both.

This could take the form of an underground pipe and control gallery as part of the tanks construction and might enable gravity output from the tanks, and could even provide a base for the service road.

This could however in smaller projects, be mostly by underground pipe work with only the necessary controls and parts otherwise required to be visible above ground level.

It is proposed that the feed-in pipe to each composit tank should be located and routed on the top of the tanks sub-division wall, with a positive secure means of only feeding either into one or other of the tank sub-divisions or via the pipe continuing along the length of the sub division structure to drain into the relevant storage reservoir' which would be necessary for initial scouring procedures.

Small scale projects, could if desired, depend on mostly manual control and mechanical interlocks, others would benefit from a high degree of automation.

The water input specific to each tank and its sub-division would be from one of the following sources identified in the locality concerned.

AQUAMANSYS

(a) At least one wide diameter well driven to access the underground water table.

(b) At least one, but more likely a number of deep borehole pumped water sources, suitably located to attain zones of effectiveness.

(c) Possibly gravity fed, but if necessary pump assisted spring or artesian water sources, to provide a high quality supply of water suitable for further processing and containerizing as a local named mineral water. This source, its tank and associated part of the total system, would be operateable at all normal times, whilst still being associated with drought alleviation.

(d) Where this system is incorporated as part of a flood alleviation storage reservoir, located downstream of a main reservoir providing useable water, then a controllable supply of water, during drought potential, could advantageously be used from this main reservoirs output source.

(e) A source of treated recycled water.

(f) Where this system is incorporated as part of a flood alleviation storage reservoir located downstream of a main reservoir providing useable water, then in times of drought, with the main reservoir nearing empty, this particular flood alleviation storage reservoir, could itself advantageously become in addition to its tanks, a source for useable water, in which case the main reservoir would serve as the pro-tem means of flood alleviation until a sufficiency of its volume had recovered.

The source of water fill of this flood-alleviation storage reservoir would be from the over-spill from the other tanks as well as any allowed throughput from its main reservoir or its watercourse. A separate settlement tank for this purpose could be filled possibly using a mobile submersible pump.

Other sources of water for this tank system may possibly be identified. It is understood that even within the U.K. where recent reservoir water levels are dangerously low, that crossover aqueducts or conduits from other main catchments and reservoirs are being considered.

The water obtained from bore hole well pumps, and even from the wider diameter water table well pumps, will run clear after a short spell of initial commission running, by virtue of the formation of their own efficient filtration. This clear running being again quickly achieved after start up following a period of being idle.

There are a number of beneficial reasons for the sub-division of each tanks as described, being: 1. To enable a sub-division to be filled and allowed to settle while the other sub-division is being emptied in use.

2. To enable an emptied sub-division to be flushed clear of silt deposit or any other cleaning or maintenance requirement carried out whilst the other sub-division is in use.

3. To provide the dividing structure to facilitate the water feed-in to each tank sub-division as well as the initial pump run to drain to achieve clear water flow.

4. To enable one sub-division to be full and ready for use, or to be in use with a sufficiency in store to enable the other sub-division to be full and continuing where deemed necessary to overspill into the storage reservoir for additional anti-drought purposes.

This process system would be best served if the necessary water treatment works were located sufficiently downstream to ensure gravity draining of the tanks concerned, otherwise output from the tanks for further treatment and final usage would require pumping. This would very probably be deemed acceptable as the drought usage would be short term and of an essential emergency nature, as indeed would be the necessary pumping into the tanks from the various water sources.

Any pumping or essential processing associated with the provision of the water for containerization, would be acceptable as a necessary production overhead. The containerization

AQUAMANSYS

works could be an additional part of the water treatment works, although conditions might dictate that this could be advantageously located further downstream for better servicing.

As already stated there would be no great difficulty in adding a tank system as described into an existing flood-alleviation storage reservoir, as a suitable section could be separated from the storage area during non potential flood conditions. This being achieved by means of interlocking driven sheet piling, enabling construction works to be carried out as required.

Similarly whilst the system as described allows for a number of separate water sources to be capable if deemed necessary of separate treatment for final usage, it may be that initially a more limited tank system could be provided by the demands of economics, with the knowledge l O of the availability of extension as and when considered beneficial.

Likewise it may be acceptable that a more limited tank system could initially intake water from multiple sources for further water treatment as one source.

There would be scope at least nationally for some degree of standardization of the type and size of the pumps to be used for each type of water source. This could be of benefit as potential drought conditions do not suddenly occur, and may not simultaneously affect all areas of a country, therefore pump units could be held in store in key locations. That is to say that although most wells will have been driven and commissioned, it is possible that most pumps could be withdrawn into store and maintained ready for re-installation with only an essential nucleus retained operational on site.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1. This is a process system for Me management of water resources,

   primarily for assistance in the alleviation of drought, and the purpose, location and description of the means of sourcing, collection, storage and usage are

   defined in the specification.

   2. This process system could be extended as and when required from a simpler and lesser form towards a greater and more multifunctional fonn as may be considered necessary to satisfy initial economic constraints and / or future increased requirements.

   3. This process system is primarily intended to enable the combining of assisting "drought alleviation", with a means of assisting "flood alleviation", and could be considered for existing as well as future flood alleviation storage installations.

   4. This process system could also be considered for inclusion in future and possibly also existing "non flood alleviation" water storage installations, although in a somewhat modified form. !

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A process system for the management of water resources by the provision of a means of assisting the alleviation of water shortage or the effects of drought in a locality by the provision of one or more specially located, formed and equipped water storage units (tanks) incorporated into a reservoir constructed to contain water for useful purposes or into a reservoir constructed to temporarily contain excess waters in storage to alleviate downstream flood hazard, with each tank being divided into two similar parts formed and equipped to intake and contain water acceptably scoured of suspended solids from a source or sources outwith the catchment available to the associated reservoir, and to be capable for this contained water to be output for such useful purposes as required.
2. 2. Each tank subdivision as claimed in Claim 1 being so formed and equipped to enable effective drainage when required into the associated reservoir storage area and when necessary, to overspill only into the same reservoir storage area even when that storage reservoir is full to capacity.
3. 3. Each tank subdivision as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 to be so formed and equipped to avoid pollution or crossover by surface waters from the adjacent land areas and may otherwise be either open on the top or closed on the top dependent on the best judgement of adequacy or desirability in regard to its location and relevant conditions of its surroundings, and whether open top or closed top its essential operational functions would be the same with regards to water inflow and outflow, inflow pipe line scouring, spill over into the associated reservoir, access, inspection, de-silting, drainage, cleaning and general maintenance.
4. 4. Each tanlc subdivision as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 being so formed and equipped that if required it can mutually share the same water content as that of the associated reservoir and equal its level and thereby not significantly deduct from that reservoirs otherwise maximum capacity.
5. 5. The system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 and Claim 4 envisages a number of tanks to enable if required the separate processing of each type of water source obtainable which may have different uses or require different treatments prior to use, and therefor a tank or arrangement of tanks may be extended subject to construction access from a lesser to a greater number of tanks to take account of changing requirements.
6. 6. The system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 and Claim 4 and Claim 5 could be incorporated into existing and / or future new flood alleviation storage reservoirs.
7. 7. The system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 and Claim 4 and Claim 5 could be incorporated into future new useable water reservoirs provided that any requirement to initially scour the water from a piped source to any tank subdivision is acceptably effected outwith the bounds of the associated reservoir and is only enabled to continue into that tank subdivision when acceptably clear of solids.

   Claims
8. 8. The system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 and Claim 4 and Claim 5 could be incorporated into an existing useable water storage reservoir provided that any requirement to initially scour the water from a piped source to any tank subdivision is acceptably effected outwith the bounds of the associated reservoir and is only enabled to continue into that tank subdivision when acceptably clear of solids and provided that the topography bounding the reservoir was suitable for this purpose and that the level of the water in this reservoir could be maintained sufficiently low to enable the necessary construction works to be effectively executed.