Dams and reservoirs, paradoxically, increase the scarcity of water

The goal is simple: reservoirs store water in times of abundance of water and stabilize its level in the dry season.
An international team of scientists working on drought, reports that many dams and reservoirs can, paradoxically, contribute to the lack of water, they, on the contrary, is intended to solve.
A study published in Nature Sustainability.
A group of scientists under the supervision of Professor Giuliano Di Baldassarre (Giuliano Di Baldassarre) from Uppsala University (Sweden) in their work showed that the increase in storage capacity in the long term may lead to unintended effects and, paradoxically, increase water shortages.
The authors argue that the expansion or planning of reservoirs should take into account two contradictory phenomena: the cycle of supply and demand and reservoir effect.
The cycle of supply and demand describes the cases when an increase in supply leads to an increase in water demand that can quickly offset the initial benefit from the creation of reservoirs.
Moreover, prolonged periods of abundant water supported reservoirs can lead to greater dependence on water resources, which in turn increases the social vulnerability and economic damage as a result of a deficit will occur.
A new study has political implications.
Instead, they offer less reliance on large water infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs, and to work towards preserving water resources.
In other words, the scientists propose to deal with drought and water shortages by reducing water consumption, not increase supply.

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