Dam heightening ― the UK perspective

摘要

Global water abstraction has doubled over the last 50 years and is expected to continue to rise. The World Commission on Dams report, published in 2000, proposes a set of strategic priorities and guidelines, which should be applied in the decision to construct new dams. The report demonstrates that opportunities exist to optimise benefits from existing dams. This paper aims to illustrate the benefits of dam heightening as a means of increasing reservoir storage. Factors that need to be considered are outlined in the paper to provide a useful reference for dam engineers. Examples of several UK dams that have been designed to accommodate future heightening are detailed along with UK dam heightening projects that have been successfully carried out. The costs of several of the completed heightening projects are detailed to strengthen the attractiveness of dam heightening.