Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 44 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability Dam safety Operation in times of flood Reservoir quality Managing sedimentation VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

Dam safety and sustainability

Planning, design, operation and monitoring all play an important part in the safety and sustainability of a dam project.

Safety issues go beyond the structural integrity of the dam itself to the safety of communities downstream as a result of dam operation.

Two of the main aspects of prolonging reservoir life relate to:

• water quality - ensuring its suitability both for intended purposes and for the ecosystem, and
• sedimentation - the rate at which sediment accumulates within the reservoir and its impact on project outputs and duration.

For further information on issues related to dam safety, preserving water quality and minimizing sedimentation, see:

• Guidance on dam safety
• Coordinating operation in times of flood
• Monitoring and maintaining reservoir quality
• Managing sedimentation to prolong reservoir life

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