INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
Oroville Dam , with damaged spillway . Picture by William Croyle , California Department of Water Resources ( Public Domain , wikimedia . org )
Dams age and deteriorate through ongoing geological and chemical processes . If the foundations and abutments are structurally weak and subject to internal erosion , then dam safety issues can arise . Dam safety deficiencies in the foundations and abutments can include weaknesses ( e . g . joints , shear zones , faults ) that are susceptible to instability , erosion or liquefaction , and long-term weathering and chemical degradation of materials .
The consequences of a catastrophic dam failure are enormous . At stake are not only lives and property , but communities , their economic well-being and the natural environment .
Malaysia has experienced several dam incidences involving the loss of life and economic losses as follow :
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In October 2013 , four illegal squatters who encroached onto the spillway outlet area of the Sultan Abu Bakar Hydro Power Dam drowned when excess water was released from the dam during a monsoon .
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In 1981 , Batu Arang Dam , Selangor , an earth fill dam failed due to a classical slip on the upstream slopes during a prolonged wet spell with evidence of the extensive softening of the compacted materials on the upstream slopes .
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Collapse of the spillway at Anak Endau Dam in 1986 during its first over-spilling .
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Damage of Ayer Keroh Dam in November 1993 due to construction at the downstream toe of the dam .
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Collapse of the cofferdam at Paya Peda Dam in 2012 due to over topping by flood waters during construction of the dam .
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Bukit Panchor Dam , Penang , an earth fill dam failed due to a classical slip on the upstream slopes following an extremely wet and then a prolonged dry period in 1970 .
With increasing population density the probability of loss of life and property damage is increasing . Vigilance is also necessary because
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