Baroota Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baroota Reservoir |
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 Location of Baroota Reservoir in Australia South Australia
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | Baroota, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°55′S 138°04′E / 32.92°S 138.06°E |
| Purpose | W |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Opening date | 1921 |
| Owner(s) | SA Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Baroota Creek |
| Height (thalweg) | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Length | 301 metres (988 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 6.14 gigalitres (217,000,000 cu ft) |
| Normal elevation | 107 metres (351 ft) AHD |
The Baroota Reservoir is a large reservoir (a place where water is stored) located in South Australia. It sits on the western edge of the southern Flinders Ranges. This reservoir was built in 1921. Its main job was to provide extra water to the city of Port Pirie. It was part of a bigger water system that included the Beetaloo Reservoir.
Today, Baroota Reservoir is not used for drinking water. However, it still supplies a small amount of water for irrigation. Irrigation means watering crops or land.
Contents
History of Baroota Reservoir
Building the Dam
The Baroota Reservoir was finished in 1921. It was designed to collect water from Baroota Creek. The dam is about 30 metres (98 ft) (around 98 feet) high. It stretches for 301 metres (988 ft) (about 987 feet) across the creek.
Water Levels and Spillways
The reservoir does not get completely full every year. After it was built in 1921, it took a long time to fill up. It didn't reach its overflow point, called the spillway, until 1932. The spillway is a channel that lets excess water flow out safely. This stops the dam from overflowing.
The original spillway was changed in the mid-1950s. It was updated again in 1978. These changes helped manage the water flow better.
Future Plans for Energy Storage
Pumped Hydro Project
There are exciting plans for Baroota Reservoir's future. In 2018, a company called Rise Renewables received a grant. This money was to help them develop a big project. They want to build a pumped hydro storage facility here.
Pumped hydro storage is like a giant battery. It stores energy using water. When there is extra electricity, water is pumped uphill to an upper reservoir. When electricity is needed, the water flows back down. This flowing water turns turbines to make power.
How the Project Would Work
The proposed project would use Baroota Reservoir as the lower pond. A new reservoir would be built higher up. Water would be pumped between the two. This system could provide between 200 MW and 270 MW of power. It could store energy for up to eight hours.
South Australia has a lot of wind and solar power. But it needs ways to store this energy. Pumped hydro storage would help keep the power grid stable. Rise Renewables also has another project, the Bridle Track Solar Project. This solar farm could provide the electricity needed to pump the water uphill.
