WEDC Technical Brief No. 48: Small earth dams

This Technical Brief is concerned with the typical small dam (up to about three meters high) which is built across a stream to form a reservoir. It provides guidance on planning, design and construction, but professional help should always be sought before building any dam whose failure could endanger lives, property or the environment. Care must also be taken to avoid the health hazards or reservoirs, including schistosomiasis and polluted water; and the rights of existing users of the water and land must be protected.