Low head pumping for seasonal water storage and flood mitigation

The authors propose a concept for creating low-cost off-river storage reservoirs, in areas which could be unsuitable for conventional dam construction, and which could offer technical and economic benefits. A low-head pumping system would be used to fill reservoirs created by levees, providing drinking or irrigation water, and/or serving to mitigate flood risk. The various types of reservoir which could be built are described, and an economic comparison with conventional storage reservoirs is presented.