Joint Reservoir and Aqueduct Design and Operation

Abstract

Numerical quadrature methods are used to solve the integral equations for steady‐state reservoir‐storage density functions. The resulting approximations are used in a variety of problems with particular emphasis on the joint optimization of the design and operation of reservoirs and water delivery systems. Basic examples, to illustrate the use of the methods, expose several interesting economic tradeoffs present in reservoir operation, and factors affecting these tradeoffs are characterized and categorized. More involved examples show the interdependence of target deliveries, delivery capacities, and the probabilistic nature of the water supplies in joint optimization problems. The continuous approximations from the quadrature methods are used in nonlinear optimization programs, jointly with a probabilistic delivery system model, to determine the partition of storage between interyearly and intrayearly uses to maximize the expected benefits from the corresponding optimally designed and operated delivery system.