Why doesn't the water leak out of the bottom of reservoirs?

Question

Why doesn't the water leak out of the bottom of reservoirs?

Answer 1

Man made reservoirs will probably be clay lined, same as the canals. Natural lakes, that are used as reservoirs, are there because they are in areas of clay laden soil or even in an area of natural clay.

Answer 2

there's a vary large bathtub like plug installed 30 feet from the bottom of the concrete reservoir

Answer 3

The Earth beneath the water (ie the mud) can only absorb so much water. Beneath this is a layer that water can't penetrate, maybe granite or a thick clay. Once it is saturated (can't take anymore) the water has nowhere to go, so the reservoir fills up. It has shallow edges and deeper centers because of the geographical features of the land on which it is situated.

(Rock will eventually absorb water, forming for example, under ground cave systems. But this takes very many years)

Answer 4

WHAT?? - yeah why doesnt water leak out of the bottom of the ocean too.

Answer 5

because when a reservoir is dug out ,it is taken down to the clay,,,clay retains water,,,,problems start when water is low in a drought and the clay is exposed to the sun it cracks ,,looks like the giants causeway,,,when it refills the water then drains away thru the cracks,so yes it can leak in certain circumstances

Answer 6

It does. Water is lost every step of the way from the seepage you describe, evaporation and leaky pipes.

Answer 7

Because the plug is made of concrete and not plastic or rubber.