spillway
Reservoir overflow channel
A spillway is a channel or passage designed to release excess water from a dam, reservoir, or other containment structure.
It prevents overflow and structural damage during floods or high water levels by providing a controlled outlet: The dam's spillway released thousands of gallons per second during the storm.
The term occasionally appears figuratively for any release valve or overflow mechanism.
Water-holding barrier
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- weirLow river barrier
- floodgateWater-controlling barrier mechanism
- sluiceGated water conduit
levee · barrage · impoundment · embankment · penstock · abutment · tailwater · headwater
Overwhelming water overflow
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- delugeSevere overflow of water
inundation · crest · overtop · discharge · gush · pour · stream · release
Release of substance outward
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- flowrateVolume passing per time
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
erosion · riparian · hydraulics · gauge · hydrology · headwater · tailwater · sedimentation
Movable barriers at openings
- valvesFlow-controlling mechanisms
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- operationProcess of working
- automationSelf-operating system design
adjustment · monitoring · actuators · sensors · calibration · mechanism · levers · radial
Formal assessment of condition
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- protocolsEstablished codes of conduct
- barriersThings blocking access
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
assessment · prevention · hazard · risk · emergency · evacuation · maintenance · reliability
dam
Water-holding barrier
sluice · levee · barrage · impoundment · embankment · penstock · abutment · tailwater · headwater · diversion
flood
Overwhelming water overflow
deluge · inundation · crest · overtop · discharge · gush · pour · stream · release · excess
discharge
Release of substance outward
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- flowrateVolume passing per time
- watershedDrainage area boundary
sediment · erosion · riparian · hydraulics · gauge · hydrology · headwater · tailwater · sedimentation · water
gates
Movable barriers at openings
- valvesFlow-controlling mechanisms
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- operationProcess of working
automation · adjustment · monitoring · actuators · sensors · calibration · mechanism · levers · radial · crest
inspection
Formal assessment of condition
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- protocolsEstablished codes of conduct
- barriersThings blocking access
standards · assessment · prevention · hazard · risk · emergency · evacuation · maintenance · reliability · resilience
- damsdam wall, barrage, concrete dams, cofferdam, Shasta
- overflowoverflow pipe, overflow drain, overflow tank, overfill, spillover
- power systemsgenerators, turbines, power plants, power stations, electricity
- structureshouse, bridge, buildings, dome, building
- glaciersglacier, crevasse, glacial movement, moraine, iceberg
- hydropowerhydropower, water turbine, dam, turbine, hydroelectricity