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Your Dam Your Responsibility (PDF~1.2MB)

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Appendix B utlet Works and Concrete Structures<br />

Problem Possible Causes and<br />

Potential Harm<br />

Outlet Releases Eroding<br />

Toe of <strong>Dam</strong><br />

Piping Along Outlet<br />

Note: Do not allow anyone to<br />

enter the water to try and block<br />

the outlet when water is flowing.<br />

Outlet Pipe <strong>Dam</strong>age<br />

(these can be difficult to diagnose<br />

because of occurring internally<br />

within the embankment)<br />

Cause:<br />

1. Outlet pipe too short.<br />

2. Lack of energy-dissipating<br />

pool or structure at<br />

downstream end of conduit.<br />

Harm:<br />

1. Erosion of toe over-steepens<br />

downstream slope, causing<br />

progressive sloughing.<br />

2. Eroded material causes<br />

environmental damage.<br />

Cause:<br />

1. Fracture or joint failure in<br />

outlet pipe.<br />

2. Seepage along outside of pipe<br />

(poor construction).<br />

Harm:<br />

1. Will get progressively worse<br />

and cause embankment<br />

failure.<br />

2. Can be difficult to stop once it<br />

progresses beyond a seep.<br />

Cause:<br />

1. Settlement; impact.<br />

2. Rust (steel pipe) pitting.<br />

3. Settlement or poor<br />

construction practice.<br />

Harm:<br />

1. Excessive seepage, possible<br />

internal erosion.<br />

2. Provides passageway for<br />

water to exit or enter the<br />

pipe, resulting in erosion of<br />

internal materials of the dam<br />

and possibly dam failure.<br />

Action Required<br />

B<br />

Action:<br />

1. Extend pipe beyond toe<br />

(use a pipe of same size and<br />

material, and form watertight<br />

connection to existing<br />

conduit).<br />

2. Protect embankment with<br />

riprap over suitable bedding.<br />

Action:<br />

1. Investigate cause by probing<br />

and digging.<br />

2. Determine if leakage is<br />

carrying soil particles and<br />

monitor flow rate changes.<br />

3. If flow increases lower dam<br />

water level as quickly as<br />

possible.<br />

4. A suitably qualified<br />

engineer should inspect<br />

the dam and recommend<br />

further actions to be taken.<br />

Action:<br />

1. Check for evidence of water<br />

either entering or exiting pipe<br />

at crack/ hole/etc.<br />

2. Tap pipe in vicinity of<br />

damaged area, listening for<br />

hollow sound that shows a<br />

void has formed along the<br />

outside of the conduit.<br />

3. If there is any suspicion at<br />

all of a progressive failure,<br />

request urgent engineering<br />

advice from a suitably<br />

qualified engineer.<br />

4. Install upstream valve to<br />

isolate pipeline and enable<br />

inspections.<br />

71

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