Looking at an aerial view of Rattlesnake Reservoir and the dam that holds back the water... I wondered where the water drains to.... and what would happen if the dam were to break. Bye bye Northwood?
Northwood High and Canyon View Elementary on your left. Dam on your right.
This static reservoir is surrounded by earth in its 80% entirety. The dead weight of the earth is the best resisting force against the lateral pressure of the static water contained into the reservoir. The purpose of this reservoir is not to generate hydroelectric energy. There is no constant flow of water that continues to add to the volume of the water therefore the movement of water is minimal. Very little force is exerted on the wall of the reservoir lining. Small cracks will generate earth erosion but the water current will never be strong enough to cause damages. Unless the entire wall were to fail immediately but rare to the the bunkered earth against the concrete wall.
Some reservoirs were created to retain massive volume of water from the melting snow to minimize flooding to the lower basin. The reservoir wall in such application is a freestanding wall without the dead weight of earth to resist dynamic lateral water. The wall itself has to be heavy as well as strong to counter react to the water pressure. The water level on the reservoir side is several hundred feet above the non waterside. The potential energy in the water due to the elevation difference when the flood gate is open produces kinetic energy that produces an enormous velocity that help to run turbines generating hydro electric energy. Our Hoover Dam is a good example. A crack in this type of dam wall will cause a disaster to the surrounding communities.
