Empirical Data-Based Analysis and Countermeasures for the Safe Operation of Reservoirs in Pingliang City

Reservoirs are core water conservancy infrastructure for regional water resource regulation, flood control, disaster reduction, irrigation and water supply. Their safe and stable operation is a key support for ensuring the sustainable development of regional economy and society, maintaining ecological environment balance and avoiding water disaster risks. Taking 35 small and medium-sized reservoirs in Pingliang City as the research object, relying on official statistical data, reservoir safety appraisal reports and engineering operation and maintenance (O&M) ledgers from 2016 to 2025, this paper systematically judges the current characteristics and core bottlenecks of the safe operation of reservoirs in Pingliang City by means of literature research, empirical analysis and induction, and analyzes the causes of problems from four dimensions: natural endowment, engineering construction, O&M management and fund guarantee. Combined with the objective needs of regional water resource endowment and water conservancy development, a targeted optimization path is constructed. The research shows that Pingliang City has achieved remarkable results in improving flood control capacity and promoting standardized O&M of reservoirs, but problems such as aging and attenuation of engineering facilities, insufficient regulation and storage capacity, and low level of information monitoring are still prominent. The collaborative measures proposed in this study, including engineering renovation, intelligent empowerment, management improvement and fund expansion, can effectively build a strong line of defense for the safe operation of reservoirs, and provide theoretical reference and practical paradigm for the safety governance of small and medium-sized reservoirs in arid and semi-arid areas of Northwest China.