Siphons: Difference between revisions
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Many older dams were not constructed with a means of draining the reservoir. Lowering the reservoir may be needed for temporary [[construction]], for [[Emergency Response|emergency response]], or when regular releases aren't needed. Siphons can be a low-cost means of providing a reservoir outlet if one does not exist. The key operational parameters are: (1) the required hydraulic lift cannot exceed the effective local atmospheric pressure adjusted for vapor pressure and frictional losses; (2) the discharge point of the siphon must be lower in elevation than the body of water to be siphoned; and (3) the pipe or hose used for the siphon must be designed to operate at less than atmospheric pressures. Note that siphon outlets can be difficult to prime. | "Many older dams were not constructed with a means of draining the reservoir. Lowering the reservoir may be needed for temporary [[construction]], for [[Emergency Response|emergency response]], or when regular releases aren't needed. Siphons can be a low-cost means of providing a reservoir outlet if one does not exist. The key operational parameters are: (1) the required hydraulic lift cannot exceed the effective local atmospheric pressure adjusted for vapor pressure and frictional losses; (2) the discharge point of the siphon must be lower in elevation than the body of water to be siphoned; and (3) the pipe or hose used for the siphon must be designed to operate at less than atmospheric pressures. Note that siphon outlets can be difficult to prime."<ref name="DS-14">[[Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 4: General Outlet Works Design Considerations) | Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 4: General Outlet Works Design Considerations), Bureau of Reclamation, 2022]]</ref> | ||
== Best Practice Resources == | |||
{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 4: General Outlet Works Design Considerations) | Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 4: General Outlet Works Design Considerations)]] | |||
== Other Resources == | |||
{{Document Icon}} [[Simple Steps to Siphoning | Simple Steps to Siphoning, WDETN]] | |||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
{{Website Icon}} [[Common Questions about Siphons|Get answers to some of the common questions about siphons]] | {{Website Icon}} [[Common Questions about Siphons | Get answers to some of the common questions about siphons]] | ||
==Trainings== | ==Trainings== | ||
Latest revision as of 23:42, 26 January 2026
"Many older dams were not constructed with a means of draining the reservoir. Lowering the reservoir may be needed for temporary construction, for emergency response, or when regular releases aren't needed. Siphons can be a low-cost means of providing a reservoir outlet if one does not exist. The key operational parameters are: (1) the required hydraulic lift cannot exceed the effective local atmospheric pressure adjusted for vapor pressure and frictional losses; (2) the discharge point of the siphon must be lower in elevation than the body of water to be siphoned; and (3) the pipe or hose used for the siphon must be designed to operate at less than atmospheric pressures. Note that siphon outlets can be difficult to prime."[1]
Best Practice Resources
Other Resources
Simple Steps to Siphoning, WDETN
Examples
Get answers to some of the common questions about siphons
Trainings
On-Demand Webinar: Design of Siphon Systems
Citations:
Revision ID: 8304
Revision Date: 01/26/2026