UN University releases report on Ageing Dams in the World

United Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment & Health (UNU-INWEH)  released a report called ‘Ageing Water Storage Infrastructure: An Emerging Global Risk’, the report states that ageing of large dams is an emerging Global Development issue as they pose threats to human safety & environment.

• Globally, around 10,000 more dams have reached or exceeded the ‘alert’ age limit of 50 years & many dams are expected to approach 100 years soon.
• Around 32, 716 large dams (55% of World) are situated in only 4 Asian Countries – China, India, Japan & South Korea, majority of these dams are set to reach the limit of 50-year threshold.
• In India, around 1, 115 large dams are set to reach the ~50 years mark by 2025.
• The report consists of case studies on decommissioning & ageing of dams from the United States, France, Canada, India, Japan, and Zambia & Zimbabwe.
• Duminda Perera, Vladimir Smakhtin, Spencer Williams, Taylor North, Allen Curry were the authors of the report.

i.Synopsis:

• It is a summary of the present state of knowledge on the ageing of large dams in the world.
• It is originally intended for Governments and agencies which are responsible for planning, managing & implementing water infrastructure developments.

ii.Report  about Global Dams:

• About 93% of World’s largest dams are located in 25 nations.
• The construction of large dams has been declining steadily in the last 40 years.
• Reasons causing Dam Decommissioning across the world are public safety, rising maintenance costs, reservoir sedimentation & restoration of the natural river ecosystem.
• Average life expectancy of a dam is around 50 years
• Some sources indicate that an average life expectancy of a dam is 50 years

iii.Regarding India

• In India, around 4, 250 large dams will be more than 50-years old in 2050 & 64 large dams will be more than 150-years old in 2050.
• The report also states that India’s current dam construction rate is one of the world’s highest.

Case study on Kerala’s Mullaperiyar Dam:

The Mullaperiyar dam was built on the river of Periyar in 1895.

• The dam is situated in a seismically active area (prone to earthquakes) and is showing signs of failure & is facing the risk of failure.
• If at all, any failure occurs  in the dam around 3.5 million people will be affected by it.

Click here to read the full report

About United Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment & Health (UNU-INWEH):
INWEH is one of the United Nations University (UNU) institutes, an academic arm of the UN.

Director – Vladimir Smakhtin
Location – Hamilton, Canada