Suggested Scenarios of Initial Filling for the Badush Reservoir, Iraq

Abstract

This study developed hypotheses based on the geometric analysis of the Badush Dam reservoir to simulate the initial filling and operation of the dam reservoir. A mathematical equation was developed to estimate the daily demand for water behind the dam, and then build an EXCEL program for calculating the input demand, output discharges, and the storage difference for the dam reservoir. Conditions and parameters for continuous/rapid filling and others for gradual filling of the reservoir were arranged in the program. The daily input discharges records, demand, and output discharges produced for the two wet and dry years selected from the records released from Mosul dam to implement the scenarios of rapid and gradual filling of Badush reservoir. The results showed that the reservoir could be filled within 20 or 130 days, according to the continuous (rapid) filling program in the wet or dry years, respectively, and the possibility of filling the reservoir within 133 or 258 days, according to the gradual filling program in the same two wet or dry years, respectively. The operation was more flexible in the dry year than the wet because the wet years may have high daily discharge releases from Mosul Dam, which requires careful monitoring of the Badush reservoir levels. After all, it may rise in a critical period and needs quick intervention by the operator. In rapid filling, it was noted that the daily increase during the days of storage in a wet year was about 1-2 m/day while no more than 1 m/day for the dry year. Regarding the gradual filling, the daily increase during the days of storage in the wet year varied between 1-3 m/day on some days that do not coincide with the peak flood wave. In the second stage, which lasted only two days, the level rose between 3-4 m/day. The third stage, which lasted only one day and coincided with the peak flood, was accompanied by a sharper increase in the level, reaching 7 m/day. The daily level increased from a few centimeters to 2 m/day through the gradual filling in the dry year.