Effects of the water withdrawal in the stratification patterns of a reservoir

The change in the stratification pattern in Boadella Reservoir (Catalonia, Spain) due to the switch in water withdrawal was investigated for a 6-month period in the year 2000. A numerical one-dimensional model (DLM) was used to predict the thermal structure of the reservoir during the period of maximum water demand. The model was found to satisfactorily predict the basic trends of the thermal stratification of the water column of the reservoir. We used this model to investigate various possible water withdrawal scenarios. When thermal stratification has been completely developed, the location of the main thermocline coincides with the depth of the outlet, in the various withdrawal scenarios considered. The possible effect of the switch between outlets on the water quality of the reservoir is discussed.