Purposes of Dams
From ASDSO Dam Safety Toolbox
Dams serve a variety of purposes including water storage, flood protection, power generation, tailings storage, or recreation. The design of a dam is heavily influenced by its intended purpose; however, the purpose of a dam can change over the course of its design life due to changes in the surrounding community or in site conditions. No matter the purpose of a dam, safety to the public is the number one priority over any potential benefits. The list below shows the main purposes for which dams are constructed. Click the links to learn more about these important functions.
Related Topics
- Power Generation
- Water Supply
- Recreation
- Flood Risk Management
- Irrigation
- Navigation
- Waste Management
- Regulation of Water
Last revised by: Rmanwaring
Revision ID: 872
Revision Date: 06/09/2022