Abstract
ABSTRACT Regions with high hydrological variability are usually supplied by reservoirs that regularize discharges inter-annually, with low discharge of regularization, seasonally subject to large overflow and evaporation losses in their periods of high water levels. The Brazilian semiarid is one of such regions. This work looks at the possibility of using water that would be evaporated and/or spilled, in regions with such characteristics, to supply demands that would not be otherwise provided by the maximum legally allowed withdrawal discharge. The proposed method was applied to the operation of a large reservoir, located in the semiarid region of Brazil. Through simulation of the water budget and optimization, a rule curve was developed for reservoir operation for achieving the maximum exploitable reservoir withdrawal in rainy periods. The results show that it is possible to use the excess water in periods of large inflows with no damage to water supply during dry periods.
Highlights
Water demands in river basins with high hydrologic variability, when supplied by surface waters, require reservoirs with inter-annual regularization
According to the results found in the rule curve establishment, Boqueirão Reservoir can provide in times of abundance up to 1,802 L/s (Qem), Figure 4
The rule curve tool, which has extremely conceptual and operational simplicity, proved to be suitable to be used in reservoir operations for this purpose, showing satisfactory and consistent results
Summary
Water demands in river basins with high hydrologic variability, when supplied by surface waters, require reservoirs with inter-annual regularization Such reservoirs are built with large storage capacity, their regularization flows and, their grantable flows tend to be low when compared to values of reservoirs located in basins with lower variability. The management of water resources is extremely complex, especially due to the extreme weather conditions, like high evaporation rates and irregular rainfall in time and space This region usually has cycles characterized by successive years of water scarcity, interspersed with successive years of high rainfall, which brings uncertainties regarding refills in upcoming years, so that the manager is induced to remain cautious when granting the use of reservoir water (STUDART; CAMPOS, 2001). Such peculiarities commonly generate mismatch between supply and demand and, conflicts of use/interest between its multiple users or uses (urban supply, animal consumption, irrigation, fish farming, etc.)
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