The crucial role in flood control and reduction for downstream areas.

By proactively regulating, lowering, and maintaining low reservoir water levels, ensuring a regular flood control capacity of 112 million m3, the Trung Son hydropower reservoir plays a crucial role in flood control and reduction for downstream areas during the rainy season.

Model of operating principles for hydroelectric reservoirs to reduce flooding.

The Trung Son hydroelectric reservoir has a catchment area of ​​approximately 14,660 km2, of which about 8,139 km2 is in Vietnam and 6,521 km2 is in Laos. The reservoir has a total capacity of 348.5 million m3 and a permanent flood control capacity of 112 million m3. Currently, the plant is operating according to the Inter-Reservoir Operation Procedure on the Ma River Basin approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 214/QD-TTg dated February 13, 2018. Reservoir operation must adhere to the principles of ensuring structural safety, flood control for downstream areas, minimum river flow, downstream water demand, and power generation efficiency.

Representatives from Trung Son Hydropower Company Limited stated that, at the end of the dry season and the beginning of the flood season in 2024, the Trung Son Hydropower Plant proactively regulated the reservoir water level through power generation from its turbines, maintaining the water level below the normal water level (160m) and completely lowering the water level to the pre-flood level (150m) by July 15th. Adhering to the inter-reservoir operating procedure on the Ma River basin, the plant ensured the consistent maintenance of a flood control capacity of 112 million m3 (capacity from 150m - 160m elevation), thus demonstrating the important role of the Trung Son hydropower reservoir in flood control and mitigation for downstream areas during the rainy season.

To ensure the safe and efficient operation of the plant, Trung Son Hydropower Company Limited proactively monitors rainfall in the reservoir catchment area and hydrological conditions through the North Central Meteorological and Hydrological Station, the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, and the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology to understand and forecast water inflow. The company adheres to the directives of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue, and Civil Defense, as well as the regulations of the downstream districts, regarding flood discharge to ensure the safety of the plant and the downstream area.

It is known that hydroelectric power plants with reservoirs are typically designed and operated for multiple purposes in water resource exploitation. The main objectives include downstream water supply, flood control, and power generation. During operation, hydroelectric power plants have demonstrated their role in flood control and mitigation for downstream areas through the regular use of the reservoir's flood control capacity and the ability to regulate water flow through the plant's turbines and sluice gates.

The operating procedures for interconnected reservoirs also stipulate that, before a flood, the reservoirs of hydropower plants must always lower their water levels to accommodate floods during the rainy season, reserving a portion of the reservoir capacity for regular flood control. Therefore, when storms, heavy rains, and floods occur, all or part of the floodwater will be stored in the reservoirs of hydropower plants, thereby contributing to flood mitigation and reduction downstream.

Having commenced operation in 2017, the Trung Son Hydropower Plant has consistently and strictly adhered to the inter-reservoir operating procedures on the Ma River basin; simultaneously, it has researched and applied science and technology to meteorological and hydrological monitoring and forecasting... to provide accurate forecasts and advice, timely and precise information, and strictly implement reservoir operation orders from the Head of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Thanh Hoa province and the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province during the rainy season.

Text and photos: Trung Sinh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thuy-dien-trung-son-vai-tro-quan-trong-nbsp-trong-cat-giam-lu-cho-ha-du-221570.htm