Author(s): T. G. Sitharam, R. Subba Rao, Kushal Shetty
Linked Author(s): T.G. Sitharam
Keywords: Sea based (coastal) reservoirs, flood water, india�s water resources, storage per capita.
Abstract: Most of India's rainfall comes over a 4-month period and average annual rainfall is very high. India receives years of excess monsoons and floods, followed by below average or late monsoons with droughts. Some regions see shortages of drinking water as well. The geographical and time variance in availability of natural water versus the year-round demand for irrigation, drinking and industrial water creates a demand-supply gap that has worsened with India's rising population. For India's water problem, the solution is to conserve the abundant monsoon water and store it in reservoirs, and use this water in areas which have occasional inadequate rainfall. This paper highlights innovative solution of storing flood water in sea based reservoirs as against the land based reservoirs. Sea based reservoir can be constructed in shallow coastal waters at appropriate locations close to the mouth of the river with a sea dike along with a spillway at one or two ends. This basically replaces the salt water in the shallow coast with fresh flood waters from the rivers. This paper discusses the clear plans along with some case studies across the world highlighting the advantages of sea based / coastal reservoirs. The paper highlights on the cost of construction per BCM of water stored and also cost per kilo litre of fresh water through this sea based (coastal) reservoirs when compared to recycling of sewage water, stored water in inland dams, ground water and desalination processed water
Year: 2017