Three Gorges Reservoir frees up 70 percent of storage capacity to prepare for flood season

The Three Gorges Reservoir, the key project of Yangtze River’s anti-flood system, has started to reduce its water level to free up storage capacity one month before the main flood season which falls on June 10.

Official data from China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) shows that on May 8 at 8pm, the inflow rate was 7,000 m3/s, the outflow rate was 12,200 m3/s and the water level has declined to 155 m. This water level is just 10 m left from the anti-flood limit of 145m. This means that the Three Gorges Reservoir has now freed up a total of 16.5 billion m3, which is over 70 percent of the anti-flood storage capacity.

The maximum anti-flood storage capacity of the Three Gorges Reservoir is 22.15 billion m3. Considering the comprehensive benefits to shipping, power generation, and water resources, the Three Gorges Reservoir gradually lowers its water level before the flood season every year.

It aims to reach 145 m by June 10 to free up sufficient storage capacity to deal with possible floods, ensuring the safety of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River.

Three Gorges Reservoir initiated this round of pre-flood water reduction in December 2019. During the outbreak of Covid-19, the reservoir increased the discharge of water, replenishing over 15.4 billion m3 for the use in the downstream areas.

From January to April, it helped meet the production and household needs at downstream. For this reason, the water level of the reservoir reached 155 m eight days earlier than at the same time last year.