Dams have a Sill Level which refers to the bottom of canal sluice(s) and represents the level up to which a dam can be emptied by flow through gravity. The storage above sill level is called live storage and that below it is called dead storage. Dam gauge starts with zero at this sill level and water levels below it are reported in minus starting from the sill level. While reporting gauges, not only general public, many news papers of repute are also quoting the "Sill Level" as "Seal Level" which needs correction.