The Difference Between a Dam and a Reservoir
When it comes to water management, there are two common terms that people often confuse: dams and reservoirs. While both are used to regulate water resources, there are some significant differences between the two that make them each unique.
What is a Dam?
A dam is a man-made structure built across a river or waterway that is designed to impound, divert or control the flow of water. Dams are usually built to satisfy one or more of the following objectives: generation of hydroelectric power, water supply, flood control, navigation, recreation, and irrigation.
Dams vary in size, shape, and material, but they all have one thing in common – the ability to regulate water flow. A dam can either impound water behind it, release water downstream, or a combination of both. Dams are built using different materials such as concrete, rock, or earth, depending on the environmental conditions and the amount of water that needs to be held back.
What is a Reservoir?
A reservoir, on the other hand, is a large man-made lake created by the impounding of a river or stream behind a dam. The main purpose of a reservoir is to store water for later use. Reservoirs are often used for providing water for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply.
Unlike dams, reservoirs are not built to control the flow of water. Instead, they are designed to store water for longer periods so that it can be used when needed. Reservoirs are much larger than dams and can hold vast amounts of water.
The Main Differences between Dams and Reservoirs
The primary difference between dams and reservoirs is that a dam is a structure built to control the flow of water, while a reservoir is an artificial body of water created by impounding water behind a dam. While a dam can exist without a reservoir, a reservoir cannot exist without a dam.
Dams are built to satisfy one or more of the following objectives: generation of hydroelectric power, water supply, flood control, navigation, recreation, and irrigation. On the other hand, reservoirs are built to store water for later use.
Dams can be made of different materials such as concrete, rock, or earth, depending on the environmental conditions and the amount of water that needs to be held back. Reservoirs, on the other hand, are much larger than dams and can hold vast amounts of water.
In summary, dams and reservoirs are both critical components of water management. While there are some similarities, the main difference between the two is that a dam is a structure built to control water flow, while a reservoir is an artificial body of water created by impounding water behind a dam for later use.
Table difference between dam and reservoir
| Feature | Dam | Reservoir |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A barrier built across a river or other waterway to hold back water and create a lake or reservoir | An artificial lake created by constructing a dam on a river or other waterway |
| Purpose | To control or manage water flow for various reasons such as electricity generation, irrigation, flood control, and water storage for human consumption | To store water for various purposes such as human consumption, irrigation, and recreation |
| Construction | Constructed across a river or other waterway using concrete, rocks, or compacted earth | Built by constructing a dam across a river or other waterway to create a lake or reservoir |
| Function | To hold back water and prevent flooding downstream, and to release water for various purposes | To store water for various purposes and release it as needed |
| Location | On a river or other waterway where it is necessary to manage water flow | On a river or other waterway where it is necessary to create a lake or reservoir for various purposes |