Miyun Reservoir (Chinese: 密云水库) is a large artificial lake situated in the Miyun District of Beijing, China. It serves as the principal source of drinking water for the municipality of Beijing and also provides flood control, irrigation, and hydro‑electric power generation.
Location and Geography
- The reservoir is located in the northern suburbs of Beijing, approximately 70 km northeast of the city centre, within the mountainous terrain of the Miyun District.
- It is fed primarily by the Chao (潮) and Bai (白) rivers, which are tributaries of the Chaobai River system.
Physical Characteristics
- Total storage capacity: about 4.45 billion cubic metres (4.45 × 10⁹ m³).
- Surface area: roughly 180 km² at full supply level.
- Dam type: rock‑fill embankment dam.
- Dam dimensions: approximately 90 m in height and 1,200 m in length.
History and Development
- Construction of the reservoir began in 1958 and was completed in 1960, as part of a national effort to secure water resources for the rapidly expanding capital.
- The project was undertaken by the Beijing Water Works Bureau in collaboration with various engineering and construction entities of the period.
Functions and Uses
- Water supply: Provides the majority of Beijing’s municipal water, delivering an average of 2.5–3.0 billion cubic metres of water annually to the city’s treatment facilities.
- Flood control: Regulates runoff from the surrounding catchment area, mitigating downstream flood risk during periods of heavy precipitation.
- Irrigation: Supplies water for agricultural lands in the Miyun region.
- Hydropower: Equipped with a small hydro‑electric station generating a few megawatts of electricity for local use.
Environmental and Management Aspects
- The reservoir and its surrounding catchment are subject to strict water‑quality protection measures, including restrictions on industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and tourism activities, to preserve the purity of the drinking water supply.
- Management is overseen by the Beijing Water Authority, which monitors water levels, quality parameters, and dam safety.
References
- Beijing Water Works Bureau (official publications).
- “Miyun Reservoir” entry in the China Water Resources Yearbook.
- Various geographic and hydrological surveys conducted by Chinese academic institutions.