Storage/impoundment in irrigation design serves to:

• A. To store water for peak demand and maintain pressure during outages.
• B. Provide thermal storage for sprinkler heating.
• C. Replace need for proper zoning.
• D. Increase evaporation losses.

Answer: (A)

Storage/impoundment provides a reservoir of water that can meet peak irrigation demand and keep system pressure steady when the primary supply or pumps can’t deliver at that moment. By sizing a reservoir to cover the highest anticipated draw and the minimum acceptable pressure, you create a buffer against fluctuations in supply, weather, and power availability. This leads to more reliable irrigation, fewer pump starts and stops, less risk of pressure drops that interrupt cycles, and better flow balance across zones. It also helps during outages by delivering water from the stored volume without relying on immediate upstream supply. It’s not meant for heating or thermal storage, not a substitute for proper zoning, and it doesn’t aim to increase evaporation losses.