World's Biggest Dam Has Extremely Dangerous Low Water Levels

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imp

Senior Member
In Africa: Lack of sufficient water is one thing; loss of electric power as well is a double-whammy, very serious. imp

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Zambia may have to halt electricity generation at Kariba
Country depends on hydro power for more than 95% of supplies


Water levels at Kariba dam, the world’s largest, are at “extremely dangerous” lows that could force a shutdown of its hydro power plants, said Zambian Energy Minister Dora Siliya.
Poor rainfall and overuse of water by Zambia and Zimbabwe, the southern African countries that share the reservoir, have caused its levels to drop, with electricity generation already reduced by more than half. As of Dec. 28, Kariba was 14 percent full, compared with 51 percent a year earlier, according to the dam’s regulator.
“The situation is dire,” Siliya told reporters Thursday in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. “I’m praying. We sit here and gaze at the sky and say, ‘please, the levels of Kariba are at extremely dangerous levels.’” A continued absence of rains could force the power plants to shut down altogether, she said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-dam-has-extremely-dangerous-low-water-levels
 

FWIW, the thread now opens just fine. For several days, it would not. Finally, I got to see the post above! imp
 

Much of our desert SW is also increasingly at risk if the Colorado Rockies don't get some serious snowpack, and soon. There are recent pictures of Lake Powell, which is quickly becoming a series of small pools, and it feeds Lake Mead, which supplies the water for the Las Vegas area, and power from Hoover Dam which goes all over that region. Las Vegas is already funding a project to install new pipes substantially lower in Lake Mead, because of the falling levels in that lake. The last time we were in Laughlin, I couldn't help notice the number of nice homes on the shores of the Colorado river, with their boat docks sitting high and dry because of the low level of the river. There wasn't enough water in the river to support much other than jet skis. The Colorado river extends all the way into Mexico, but in recent years hardly a drop of water makes it to Mexico.

Phoenix was built over a large aquifer, and that city has been drawing increasing amounts of ground water that Nature has been unable to replenish. One report I saw said that the runways at Luke AFB have sunk well over a foot in recent years, as the ground settles, due to the water being used up. The last time we were visiting down there, the newspaper said that every drop of water that comes out of a household faucet has been flushed through at least 7 peoples toilets.

This El Nino will probably supply huge amounts of rainwater to the Western US, but most of that water will just flood the region, and run off back into the Pacific. There is a lot of truth in the statement that says "Fresh water will be the New Gold" in another few years....especially in the SW.
 
Don M. said:
Much of our desert SW is also increasingly at risk if the Colorado Rockies don't get some serious snowpack, and soon. There are recent pictures of Lake Powell, which is quickly becoming a series of small pools, and it feeds Lake Mead, which supplies the water for the Las Vegas area, and power from Hoover Dam which goes all over that region. Las Vegas is already funding a project to install new pipes substantially lower in Lake Mead, because of the falling levels in that lake. The last time we were in Laughlin, I couldn't help notice the number of nice homes on the shores of the Colorado river, with their boat docks sitting high and dry because of the low level of the river. There wasn't enough water in the river to support much other than jet skis. The Colorado river extends all the way into Mexico, but in recent years hardly a drop of water makes it to Mexico.

Phoenix was built over a large aquifer, and that city has been drawing increasing amounts of ground water that Nature has been unable to replenish. One report I saw said that the runways at Luke AFB have sunk well over a foot in recent years, as the ground settles, due to the water being used up. The last time we were visiting down there, the newspaper said that every drop of water that comes out of a household faucet has been flushed through at least 7 peoples toilets.

This El Nino will probably supply huge amounts of rainwater to the Western US, but most of that water will just flood the region, and run off back into the Pacific. There is a lot of truth in the statement that says "Fresh water will be the New Gold" in another few years....especially in the SW.
Click to expand...

Excellent analysis of it, IMO. Despite it's immense size, Phoenix and it's surrounding cities has so far been spared of anything resembling water shortage. That is due to a striking fact: Agriculture uses far more water than domestic usage. Much of the ag around Phoenix relied for many decades on water supplied from 5 lakes situated in mountainous regions north and northeast of the valley, Roosevelt Lake, the oldest and largest reservoir being quite well established. The ag operations have been slowly taken over into residential development: thousands of new homes now covering previous cropland, use less water than their predecessor! We lived there 20 years, and witnessed the unprecedented population growth; that fact is really why we left.

Phoenix metro area as of 2011 had 4.3 million population. Las Vegas metro 2 million. Yet, Vegas is writhing with the serious thought of water shortage; both areas have similar rainfall amounts. Almost NO ag land existed about Vegas Valley, as it did around PHX.

In my mind, water will inevitably become the new "oil", worldwide. imp
 
So many issues pop up here and makes you wonder about all those preliminary plans and studies used to sell projects like that. You mean to tell me no one thought about the possibility of a drought in Africa? Makes alternatives like solar, wind or even nuclear look real juicy right about now.

Or over building and use of ground water. Artificial weight up top and voids underneath-that will end well.

As pointed out by Debbie droughts reveal a lot including history.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=drought+reveals+old+buildings&FORM=HDRSC2
 

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