Water Storage
Water storage technologies play a key role in integrated water management. The goal of water storage is reduced runoff of precipitation into receiving waters and retention in the landscape for delayed use in shortage situations.
Thus, water storage serves as a buffer to reduce uncontrollable water losses (e.g., from surface runoff). Furthermore, storage provides an opportunity to counteract the negative effects of climate change.
Additionally, water storage can improve agricultural productivity in addition to water security. Today, water storage options have a wide range and integrate surface and subsurface options. Water retention can be optimized through various management measures, both technological and natural. Preference is given to flexible and robust solutions that exploit synergies with other strategies.
Near-natural rivers and their floodplains make an important contribution to climate adaptation.
Restoration measures support the conservation and rehabilitation of natural retention areas and spaces.
The recovery of floodplains and retention areas requires flexible land management.
Surface water reservoirs must be prepared for climate change and extreme weather events.
Excess rainfall can be used to bridge prolonged periods of drought.
Artificial groundwater recharge can be achieved by utilizing surface waters in combination with an aquifer.
Natural water retention in soils can be enhanced through sustainable agriculture.
Measures to improve natural water retention increase the landscape’s resilience to extreme weather events.
Active management of agricultural drainage systems enables efficient control of near-surface water storage.
Natural aquifers can be used as storage.
Losses due to evaporation can be minimized.
Significantly larger storage volumes are possible compared to conventional storage methods, with low space requirements.
ZALF & SpreeWasser:N presents
© ZALF/ Roland Baatz
A GIS-based toolbox for water storage management is being developed to identify potential sites and assess their suitability and availability. The toolbox will link local and spatial baseline data with information on the costs, effectiveness, and efficiency of individual storage methods, as well as relevant regulatory requirements. The results regarding potential sites and the efficiency of the recommended water storage solutions will be made available to users, such as water associations and authorities, as a decision-support tool.
