Water chemistry variations below regulating reservoirs in Great Britain

Abstract

The downstream influence of storage reservoirs upon river water chemistry is an area largely devoid of literature. Yet approximately fifty per cent of such reservoirs in Great Britain significantly regulate flow, both by flood control, and increasingly through irregular but discrete large-volume releases. Natural patterns of stream water chemistry are shown to be disturbed by the effects of Man, through changing land-use and effluent discharge. Moreover, the establishment of a reservoir in the head waters of a major river, can change the water quality regime for a considerable distance below the dam. [Continues.