Dam Safety and the Environment

The main objective of this report is to present information on the design and management of dam projects in order to improve their safety and lessen their environmental impact. The first part of the report presents a historical and geographic perspective on the construction of dams and a balanced overview of the need for and benefits derived from dams, and of the increased concern for their safety and the impact of dams on the environment. This section also includes a presentation of the World Bank's role in dam construction. The second part focuses on: (a) the experiences of the World Bank in dam safety and the implementation of its policies; (b) the experience of developed and developing countries in the field of dam safety; (c) design for dam safety; and (d) reassessing the safety of existing dams. The third part focuses on environmental aspects with special reference to water quality and public health. It also presents a discussion on the need to express environmental and social aspects in monetary terms in the evaluation of dam projects.