Siphons in dams – design, installation, operation, management and testing

The demand for a guide of this nature is due to an increased focus on available drawdown provision at existing reservoirs and of a general direction towards permanent facilities, if practicable, as opposed to a reliance on temporary arrangements such as pumps. This guide, including most of the case studies, focuses on designing and installing retrofitted siphons at reservoirs to provide additional drawdown capacity. Guidance on operation, maintenance, inspection and testing, is also included, which can be applied to existing facilities. The form and complexity of siphons are varied, including single or multiple, pipe materials, method of priming, discharge control, and how it is integrated with the dam. The intention is to provide guidance on what should be considered by the design team for developing an appropriate system that is fit for its intended purpose.