| Safety
triggered via two different communication channels and can all be triggered together or as single and selected groups. Romanian energy supplier Hidroelectrica SA is using the systems to ensure downstream populations of its dams can be reliably warned in the event of an emergency.
Public safety
Public safety at dams has been in the spotlight recently in the US. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) declared in April 2021 that every April will now be known as Low Head Dam Public Safety Awareness Month. The designation is meant to draw awareness to the safety hazard posed by low head dams to swimmers, kayakers, or other river goers, who may not recognise the structures and the turbulent currents they can cause. Between 2018 and 2020 there were 111 reported deaths due to incidents cause by low head dams. “Preventing the tragedies caused by low head dams is a matter very near and dear to my heart,” said Tom Smith, ASCE Executive Director. “As someone who enjoys river kayaking, swimming and fishing, I’m particularly aware of the dangers of low head dams, the hydraulics of which have caused numerous fatalities, including here in Virginia. They also create a host of liability
issues..It is time we address this important issue which affects any of us who enjoy being on the water.”
Low head dams can be difficult to locate and are not easily seen looking downstream as they blend into the horizon. They are not usually marked and become deadly when unknowing river goers are pushed underwater due to the strong turbulence and recirculating currents caused by the dam. Most low head dams are currently unregulated and there is not a national inventory of the structure. ASCE’s EWRI is encouraging the public to assist in identifying low head dams across the country to create a database of where they are located. Marked low head dams could keep residents safe by knowing where to avoid recreational activities that would be dangerous near a low head dam.
The Association of Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) said it is critical that the scope of this danger is understood and that the public is made aware of the many ways they can keep themselves safe and avoid a tragedy. ASDSO said it is proud to support the establishment of a Low Head Dams Public Safety Awareness Month and wants to help: ● Spread awareness of the dangers and risks associated with low head dam structures.
● Spark an interest in public volunteerism to help identify sites throughout the country where these dams are located.
● Encourage people who recreate on or near water to avoid low head dams both upstream and downstream.
Safety challenge To reduce accidents and drownings around canals,
the US Bureau of Reclamation has selected three Canal Safety Challenge finalists to test their proposed prototypes. They will each receive US$50,000 for testing at the Reclamation Technical Service Centre’s Hydraulics Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. The Canal Safety Challenge is a public competition focused on developing solutions to improve public safety and reduce drownings in canals throughout the US, and make egress from canals easier or allow for safer rescue and recovery efforts. The three finalists’ proposals are:
● The Greenfields Irrigation District’s in Montana which includes a unique ramp that would use the force of the water to help the individual get to safety.
● Isotrope in Massachusetts includes a partially submerged deck that will allow people to walk, crawl or be rescued from the current.
● WGM Group in Montana includes a unique scoop designed to capture floating objects at a pipe entrance and allow a person to get out or be rescued.
“Reclamation maintains more than 8000 miles of canals throughout the west, and more than ten percent of those are in urban areas,” Chief Engineer David Raff said. “These innovative proposals have the potential
to increase public safety in and around canals throughout the Western United States.” ●
References
www.building.govt.nz/ about-building-performance/ all-news-and-updates/ strengthening-the-safety-and- resilience-of-aotearoas-large-dams/
https://www.gov.br/anm/pt-br/ assuntos/noticias/vistoria- mantem-barragem-do-xingu-em- nivel-2-de-emergencia
www.rezatec.com/news/canal- and-river-trust-adopt-idms/
https://www.rezatec.com/news/ hunter-water-expands-rezatec- dam-monitoring/
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2021 | 19
Above: Aviemore Dam in New Zealand. Government policy is paving the way for new dam safety regulations to protect from the potentially catastrophic impact of dam failure
Below:There has been greater awareness recently about public safety at low head dams in the US
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