Exploring Measurement Techniques for Dam Water Discharges

New Delhi, 13 July, (VNI)  Amidst the widespread reports of water being released from dams these days, there remains uncertainty regarding the measurement techniques employed for such releases. Here, we provide an answer to this inquiry.
The expression of water measurement from dams predominantly utilizes Cusecs, which stands for cubic feet per second.
There exist two distinct circumstances under which this measurement is applicable:
(i) When the water remains static within the dams:
The quantification of water at rest, such as in ponds or reservoirs, entails the adoption of volume-based units. This methodology proves particularly useful when evaluating water storage within dams. Commonly employed units include cubic meters.
To provide context, it is worth noting that one cubic meter equates to approximately 7.4805 gallons, while one US gallon corresponds to roughly 0.1337 cubic meters or 3.79 liters.
(ii) When the water is in motion:
During the active release of water from dams, larger units are employed to gauge the volume of water present within reservoirs or to determine the flow rate of rivers. The measurement units utilized in these situations are typically TMC (thousand million cubic meters) or Cusecs (cubic feet per second).
Cusecs serve as an indicator of the flow rate, denoting the volume of water flowing per second in cubic feet. On the other hand, TMC signifies one thousand million cubic meters, equivalent to approximately 2.831X1018 liters.
To draw a connection, it should be noted that one US gallon can be converted to roughly 0.1337 cubic meters or 3.79 liters.
In conclusion, the primary unit of measurement for water discharged from dams is Cusecs.