It turns out that "releasing immense amounts of water downstream" can have side effects.

What do you think is happening to the water not being utilized in the production of power? I assumed it's still being run downstream, just not through the power producing turbines.

I'd expect there's not a big effect on the ultimate amount of water being released downstream either way.

	▲	ceejayoz 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		They let the reservoir fill up for when the power and/or drinking water is needed later. The max is like a car engine’s redline. That the car can hit it doesn’t mean you should at all times.