Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 45 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

Guidance on dam safety

The nature of dam projects means that failure or inappropriate operation can have catastrophic consequences on human life and property.

Although designs have improved and the proportion of dam failures reduced significantly in the period after the 1950s, from 2.2% to less than 0.5%, the significant increase in the number of large dams from the 1960s and ageing population requires major efforts in monitoring, assessment and resources for maintenance and remedial measures.

Research by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) identified that most failures (about 70%) occur in the first ten years of the life of the dam with proportionately more during the first year. ICOLD Bulletin No. 99 Dam Safety - Statistical Analysis, 1995.

For detailed guidance on dam safety issues see:

• World Bank Policy on Dam Safety
• World Bank Comparative Study on Dam Safety Regulation
• Guidance of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)
• UK Reservoir Safety
• US Bureau of Reclamation - Dam Safety Office
• World Commission on Dams - thematic review on operations
• Earthquakes and dams
• Downstream safety and livelihoods - impoundment and emergency drawdown

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