The survey below is a key component of AwwaRF Project 3037, and is being conducted to:
Determine what control and management strategies drinking
water utilities and other reservoir managers are
using to optimize water quality and maximize the water
available for their use,
Identify the existing and future challenges
in maintaining high quality water, in water supply reservoirs,
Collect information on the degree of success of various
operational control strategies that reservoir
managers/operators employ and, identify the reservoir conditions
that correlate to the success of various operational strategies.
Benefits of Your Participation in the Survey
All participants will be provided
the web site address where copies of the survey results and the
presentations, discussions, and findings from a workshop on reservoir
operations and control will be located.
Survey Introduction
In this survey, reservoir operational control and management refers to any of a utility's/agency's actions that
affect water movement to or from a reservoir, water quality conditions in a reservoir, or influence the natural
conditions in a reservoir.
All respondents names, the names of specific reservoirs,
and the identities of utilities participating in the
survey will remain anonymous
in any publications or presentations based on this project
unless a waiver of
anonymity is granted by the participant's organization.
First, please provide the following information.
Background Utility/Agency Information
Utility/Agency Name
Contact Person
Title
E-mail
Phone
Address (optional)
Reservoir Specific Information:
State or Province Location(s)
Number of Reservoirs
Total volume of all reservoirs at full capacity
(Check if this value is
actual
estimated)
SURVEY QUESTIONS
1.
Does your utility/agency have a person whose primary
responsibility is reservoir operations and/or management?
Yes
No
2.
What is the average daily production of water for
drinking water purposes from your reservoirs?
<1 MGD (3.8 ML/day)
>1 MGD (3.8 ML/day) but <10 MGD (38 ML/day)
>10 MGD (38 ML/day) but <25 MGD (95 ML/day)
>25 MGD (> 95 ML/day)
None (The reservoir(s) are not used for drinking water purposes)
3.
Which of the following is usually the primary trigger
in terms of making reservoir operational decisions?
(Check all boxes that apply)
Water quality issues
Water quantity issues
Regulatory restrictions
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
4.
Does your utility/agency closely (i.e. daily to weekly frequency)
monitor the conditions in its reservoir(s) for the following?
(Check all boxes that apply)
Water quality
Water quantity
Regulatory compliance
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
5.
Does or has your utility utilized real-time data collection from a
reservoir water monitoring system to guide operational decisions?
(Check all boxes that apply)
Yes we do, currently using a system to monitor water
quantity/elevation
Yes we do, currently using a system to monitor water quality
Yes we had, previously monitored water quantity/elevation, but not currently
Yes we had, previously monitored water quality, but not currently
No, had not and do not utilize any real-time monitoring system
6.
At what frequency does your utility/agency normally monitor water
quality in its reservoirs?
Approximately weekly basis
Approximately monthly basis
Approximately every two weeks
Less frequently than once a month
7.
How is the water quality monitoring data for the reservoir(s)
utilized?
(Check all boxes that apply)
To monitor long-term water quality trends
To determine when to control algal populations
To determine when to begin Fe/Mn control
To trigger the beginning or discontinuing of withdrawal from a specific reservoir(s)
To begin blending of waters
To adjust the depth at which water is being withdrawn from a reservoir
As input to a computer model that guides short-term
reservoir operational decisions
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
8.
What is the level of concern for the conditions that might be
experienced at one or more reservoirs that you operate
(1-high; 2-moderate; 3-slight or none)
Eutrophication/nutrient enrichment:
Elevated algal concentrations:
Low dissolved oxygen
Elevated iron and/or manganese concentrations
Excessive aquatic weeds
Invasive species
(list all)
Taste and odor problems
Biological contamination (i.e. presence of pathogenic organisms)
High suspended solids/turbidity
Other
For 'Other,' please describe briefly.
9.
What conditions most significantly guide or control reservoir
operational decisions?
(Check all boxes that apply)
Maintaining good water quality in the reservoir
Maintaining a specified reservoir capacity/quantity
If you employ algal control methods, which of the following methods
have you employed for controlling algal populations?
(Check all boxes that apply)
Copper sulfate applications to reservoir surface waters
Application of other copper-based algicides
Application of non-copper based algicides
Lake oxygenation/aeration
Artificial destratification/water column mixing
Inter-source water transfers (blending)
Alum addition (for phosphorus removal)
Biomanipulation
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
11.
If algicide applications are used in reservoir management are they:
Conducted on a routine frequency/regular schedule
Conducted on an as-needed basis
12.
If algicide is applied on an as-needed basis, what condition is used
to trigger the application?
13.
On a scale of 0 to 3 (0-not applicable; 1-works well; 2-works somewhat; 3-none or
little success) which of the methods that you listed above in 10 has
been most effective?
Copper sulfate applications to reservoir surface waters
Application of other copper-based algicides
Application of non-copper based algicides
Lake oxygenation/aeration (e.g. hypolimnetic, layer, bubble-plume)
Artificial destratification/water column mixing
Inter-source water transfers (blending)
Alum addition (for phosphorus removal)
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
14.
Please indicate the estimated annual expenditures for reservoir
water quality monitoring (including laboratory analytical costs).
Unknown
less than $50,000
greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000
greater than $100,000 but less than $250,000
greater than $250,000 but less than $500,000
greater than $500,000
15.
Please indicate estimated annual expenditures on in-reservoir water
quality management (e.g. chemicals, power costs, labor).
Unknown
less than $50,000
greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000
greater than $100,000 but less than $250,000
greater than $250,000 but less than $500,000
greater than $500,000
16.
Does your utility/agency actively manage water transfers
between/among reservoirs?
(Check all that apply.)
No
Yes, for water quality purposes
Yes, for water quantity purposes
Yes, for regulatory compliance
Yes, Other
If you selected 'Yes, Other,' would you describe briefly on
'Other'?
17.
If water transfers are practiced are they
(Check all that apply):
Between reservoirs in different drainage basins/watersheds
Between upstream and downstream reservoirs
18.
Are other sources of water (e.g. rivers, groundwater from wells)
transferred to one or more of your reservoirs?
(Check all that apply)
Yes, to increase the available quantity of water in the reservoir
Yes, to improve water quality in the reservoir
No
Not sure
19.
Do you practice transferring different source waters to your
reservoir(s) based on the quality of the water being transferred at the
time of transfer?
Yes
No
If you selected 'Yes,' would you elaborate on
what specific water quality parameters are monitored to make this decision?
20.
Do you employ any real-time sensors and/or models to guide the
transfer of water to or between reservoirs?
Yes
No
If you selected 'Yes,' would you describe
which real_time sensors are used and what type of model(s)?
21.
Does your utility or agency dredge reservoir sediments on a regular
or periodic basis to maintain acceptable reservoir capacity or for water
quality purposes?
(Check all that apply)
Yes, to maintain reservoir volume
Yes, for water quality purposes
Yes, to maintain water flow
No
22.
Which of the following activities do you consider a potential threat
to continued use of water currently available in your reservoir?
(Check all that apply)
Increased agricultural use
Increased hydroelectric use
Increased industrial use
Threatened or endangered plant or animal species
in the reservoir or surrounding watershed
Water quality degradation from urban/suburban development
Other
If you selected 'Other,' please describe briefly.
None
23.
To document the state
of the industry we would like to obtain copies of reports that illustrate
the success of various reservoir operational strategies you have employed.
Please indicate whether you have information of this nature and are able to
share these documents with the project team.
Yes
No
Thank you *very much* for taking part in this survey!
You will be provided with the results of the survey at the end of the
survey period and provided with the URL for the workshop website
in the near future.
