Rezervuar

Rezervuar refers to a storage facility used to hold liquids, most commonly water, for later use. The term is widely used in Turkish and other languages as the equivalent of reservoir, and may describe both natural lakes and artificial storage bodies. Natural reservoirs store water in basins fed by rainfall, rivers, and groundwater. Artificial reservoirs are created by engineering works such as dams, embankments, and lined storage basins to retain water for supply, irrigation, flood control, or hydropower.

Key components of an artificial reservoir include a dam or barrier that creates the storage boundary, a spillway to pass flood flows safely, and intake structures or conduits to withdraw water for distribution or release. Some reservoirs include treatment facilities, pumping stations, or outlet works to manage levels and quality. Storage capacity is defined by surface area and volume, measured in cubic meters or cubic hectometers, and is influenced by catchment inflows, evaporation, seepage, and sedimentation.

Primary uses include municipal and agricultural water supply, industrial use, flood risk reduction, hydropower generation, and recreation. Reservoir operation aims to balance water availability with demand, maintain water quality, and mitigate downstream flooding. Design must consider seismic risk, climate variability, sediment management, and ecological impact, including effects on aquatic habitat and downstream sediment transport.

Environmental and social considerations include land use changes, displacement, evaporation losses, and potential contamination. Safety concerns for reservoir systems focus on dam integrity, spillway function, seepage control, and emergency planning for downstream populations in case of dam failure.