Water Management on Drinking Water Reservoirs in the Aspect of Climate Variability: A Case Study of the Dobromierz Dam Reservoir, Poland

Abstract

Water reservoirs are important sources of drinking water in many parts of the world. The aim of the article is to check how water management is carried out in the Dobromierz reservoir (southwestern Poland) in the aspect of climate variability and defining recommendations for water management of this object. The reservoir was put into operation in 1986 and supplies drinking water to the city of Świebodzice. The analysis of water management (expressed by characteristic flows) showed that in most cases it is carried out in accordance with the water management manual (average compliance of approximately 93%). The main problems in the proper operation of this facility, based on literature analysis, were a lack of constant water monitoring inflow and outflow from the reservoir, lack of a fish ladder, and unsatisfactory water quality due to agricultural pollutants. The solution to these problems would be to install monitoring devices, build a fish ladder, and regulate the use of arable lands. It was shown that the construction of the reservoir had an impact on the dynamics of annual flows in the Strzegomka River (reduced fluctuations in flows after the reservoir was put into operation; daily data from Łażany water gauge, 1951–2022). Moreover, climate variability has an impact on water management (changes in temperature and sunshine duration, which affect the dynamics of flows) Water management in reservoirs should be adapted to local conditions, as well as strategies for dealing with climate variability, recommendations, documentation, and policies at various levels of management.