Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized

G O O D P R AC T I C E N OT E O N

O C TO B E R 2 02 0
SAFETY OF DAMS AND DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES

DAM SAFETY
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 Good Practice Note on
Dam Safety
First Edition
OCTOBER 2020

Good Practice Notes (GPNs) are produced to help World Bank staff in providing implementation support to Borrowers in meeting the requirements of
the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). They are written in a style and format that is intended for all staff and development partners to use.
GPNs are advisory in nature and are not World Bank policy nor are they mandatory. They will be updated according to emerging good practice.
© 2020 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank

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This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations,

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Please cite the work as follows: World Bank. 2020. “Good Practice Note on Dam Safety.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

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Cover photo: Kariba hydropower dam (Zambia and Zimbabwe) © Marcus Wishart/World Bank.

Cover design: Bill Pragluski, Critical Stages LLC.

Contents

Acknowledgments vi
Abbreviations viii
Glossary x

Chapter 1  Introduction 1

Chapter 2  Background 3

Chapter 3  ESF Requirements on Dam Safety 4

Safety Assessment of Existing Dams and DUC on Which World Bank-Funded Projects Rely 6
Small and Low-Risk Dams 7

Chapter 4  A Risk-Management Approach to Dam Safety 8

Chapter 5  Risk Analysis Tools 11

Chapter 6  Quality of Information and Institutional Capacity 13

Chapter 7  Application to World Bank Operations 15

General Guidance and Essential Tools 15
Risk Classification by the Borrower 15
Potential Failure Modes and Consequence Assessment 22
Assessing the Capacity of the Borrower 25
Risk Control and Resilience Enhancement Options 25

Chapter 8  Procedural Aspects: Stages, Plans, and Technical Support in Project

Preparation and Implementation 29
Key Steps by World Bank Staff in Project Preparation and Implementation 30
Dam Safety Provisions under the Environmental and Social Review Summary and the
Environmental and Social Commitment Plan 32
Dam Safety Plans 33
Prequalification or Initial Selection of Bidders 39
Independent Review 40
Technical Assistance Related to Dam Safety 43
Institutional, Legislative, and Regulatory Framework for Dam Safety 45
Requirements under Other Parts of the ESF and Legal Operational Policies 45

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety iii

Annex A  Essential References: Risk Analysis in Dam Safety Management 49

Annex B  Brief Summary of Most Relevant ICOLD Bulletins to Risk-Informed

Dam Safety Management 52

Annex C  ICOLD Small Dams Hazard Classification 54

Annex D  U.S. Joint Federal Risk Categories 56

Annex E  Risk Management Strategies from Past World Bank Operations 57

Annex F  Dam Safety Dashboard: Environmental and Social Review Summary 58

Annex G  Procurement Aspects Related to Dam Safety 60

Annex H  Standard Project Preparation Data Table for Projects with Dams 63

Annex I  Small Dam Safety: Risk Mitigation and Management 64

Figures
2.1. Evolution of Dam Safety Policies 3
4.1. Conceptual Diagram of Threats/Loads, Dam Response/Performance, and Consequences 9
6.1. Conceptual Representation of Risk Analysis Tools 14
7.1. Typical Risk Classification Diagram of New Dams 19
7.2. Typical Risk Classification Diagram of Existing Dams 21
8.1. Decision Tree for Determining the Relevant Dam Safety Requirements under the ESF/ESS4 29
B.1. Integrated (Risk-Informed) Decision Making 53
C.1. Relationship H √V with the Indication of the PHC
2
54
F.1. Basic Concept of the ESF Dashboard on Dam Safety 59

Tables
3.1. Guidance on the Application of the ESF/ESS4 Annex 1 Requirements in Different Types
of World Bank 5
5.1. Types of Risk Analyses 11
7.1. Guidance for Risk Assessment Level and Tools 16
7.2. ICOLD Dams Classification System 18
7.3. Typical Risk Classification System for New Dams 20
7.4. Typical Risk Classification System for Existing Dams 21
7.5. Total Distance to Route Dam Break Flood Flow 24
7.6. Borrower’s Capacity Level 26

iv Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

7.7. Risk Control Options 27
7.8. Resilience Enhancement Measures 28
8.1. Key Steps and Essential Elements 30
8.2. Submission Timing of Dam Safety Plans 33
8.3. Typical Prequalification-Related Situations and Recommendations 40
8.4. Risk Classification for TA Involving Dam Safety 44
C.1. Potential Hazard Classification of Small Dams 54
D.1. U.S. Joint Federal Risk Categories 56
E.1. Risk Control Strategy 57
E.2. Examples of Risk Control Strategy Application 57
G.1. Combined Quality-Cost Ratio for QCBS (Consulting Services) 62
I.1. Governance of Small Dam Safety: Desirable Elements 64
I.2. Local Communities’ Potential Contributions to Small Dam Safety 65

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety v

Acknowledgments

This Good Practice Note (GPN) on dam safety was prepared by members of the Global Dam Safety Team
led by Satoru Ueda (Lead Dam Specialist, SEAW1) and including Ximing Zhang (Senior Dams Specialist,
SWAGL), Marcus Wishart (Lead Water Resource Specialist, SEAW1), Felipe Lazaro (Senior Dam
Specialist, SWAGL), Luciano Canale (Senior Hydropower Specialist, IAFE1), and Kimberly Nicole Lyon
(Consultant, SWAGL). Valuable inputs were provided by Pierre Lorillou (Senior Hydropower Specialist,
IAFE4), Rikard Liden (Lead Energy Specialist, ISAE1), and Maria Guell Pons (Dam Specialist, SWAGL).

An advisory panel including Dr. Alessandro Palmieri (former World Bank Lead Dam Specialist),
Dr. Andy Zielinski (Chair of Dam Safety Technical Committee, International Commission on Large
Dams), and Mr. Peter Amos (former President of New Zealand Dam Safety Commission) provided crit-
ical technical guidance and quality review.

The team gratefully acknowledges the guidance from Jennifer Sara (Global Director for Water, SWADR),
Soma Ghosh Moulik (Practice Manager, SWAGL), Guangzhe Chen (former Senior Director, SWADR),
Pilar Maisterra (former Practice Manager, GWAGS), and Maria Angelica Sotomayor (former Practice
Manager, GWAGP). The team also appreciates the guidance from Robert Saum (Director, OPSPF),
Jennifer Thomson (Former Director, OPSPF), John Kellenberg (Manager, OPSSF), Julia Bucknall
(Director, ESF Environment), Charles Di Leva (Chief Environmental and Social Standards Officer,
OPSSP), Ian White (Operations Officer, OPSSP), and Colin S. Scott (Consultant, OPSSP). The develop-
ment of the GPN benefitted from a series of consultations with OPCS, the ESF Unit, and LEGEN on June
6, 2019, and December 11, 2019, and meetings of the ESF Team on July 18, 2019, and May 14, 2020. The
team appreciates the peer review process co-organized by OPSPF and the Water GP, along with the
valuable comments and feedback from the peer reviewers: Victor Mosoti (Chief Counsel, LEGEN),
Wolfhart Pohl (Lead Environment Specialist, GEN2A), Pravin Karki (Global Lead for Hydropower and
Dams and Senior Hydropower Specialist, IEADR), Eileen Burke (Global Lead for Water Resources and
Senior Water Resources Specialist, SWADR), and Amal Talbi (Lead Water Resources Specialist, SMNWA),
along with comments provided by LEGEN—including Manush Hristov (Senior Council), Sofia de Abreu
Ferreira (Senior Council, LEGEN), Xiaoxin Shi (Council, LEGEN), and Christina Leb (Senior Council)—
and Ethel Sennhauser (Director, Operations, and Strategy, Sustainable Development), Josefo Tuyor
(Senior Environmental Specialist, SSAEN), Noreen Beg (Lead Environmental Specialist, SAFE2), Ruth
Tiffer-Sotomayor (Senior Environmental Specialist, SAFE2), Eric Shayer (Senior Environmental, Health,
and Safety Specialist, OPSSP), Elizabeth Temple Smith (Consultant, OPSSP), and Nessim J. Ahmad
(Senior Director, IFC CESPR) on behalf of IFC’s Environment, Social, and Governance Sustainability
Advice and Solutions Department (CEG) and IFC’s Environment and Social Policy and Risk Department
(CES). The team also appreciates the feedback and suggestions relating to procurement by the OPSPR
including Enzo De Laurentiis (Chief Procurement Officer), Tesfaalem G. Iyesus (Lead Procurement
Specialist), and Samuel H. Kebede (Senior Procurement Specialist). The team also appreciates the feed-
back and suggestions to the TN on Tailings Storage Facilities by the IEEX1 including Christopher Gilbert
Sheldon (Practice Manager) and Sven Ulrich Renner (Program Manager).

vi Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

The GPN benefitted greatly from the valuable support and advice from the World Bank and IFC col-
leagues, including Dominique Isabelle Kayser, Michael Hall, Gael Gregoire, Joel Kolker, Abdulhamid
Azad, Halla Qaddumi, Nagaraja Harshadeep, Jun Matsumoto, Sarah Keener, Toyoko Kodama, Martin
Benedikt Albrecht, Nicolas Jean Marie Sans, Noosha Tayebi, Jean Francois Mercier, Pablo Cardinale,
Takafumi Kadono, Xiaokai Li, and Habab Taifour. The Global Solutions Group for Hydropower and Dams
provided an important and useful network for soliciting feedback and comments from a wide range of
practitioners within the World Bank. Erin Ann Barrett, Fayre Makeig, and Pascal Saura provided invalu-
able publications support.

This GPN was informed by a series of workshops with international practitioners and experts hosted by
the World Bank and the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Technical Committee on
Dam Safety during the ICOLD Congress/Annual Meetings in Vienna, Austria on July 2, 2018, and in
Ottawa, Canada, on June 10, 2019. It draws upon preparatory works by the advisory panel listed above,
a consultancy report for small dams prepared by the International Water Management Institute led by
Winston Yu, and the World Bank’s global analysis of regulatory frameworks for the safety of dams and
downstream communities.

The GPN was made possible with the financial support of the Global Water Security and Sanitation
Partnership, which supports client governments to achieve the water-related Sustainable Development
Goals through the generation of innovative global knowledge and the provision of country-level
support.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety vii

Abbreviations

ANCOLD Australian National Committee on Large Dams

BP Bank Procedure
CSQAP Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan
DEM digital elevation model
DSS Dam Safety Specialist
DUC dam under construction
EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan
ESCP Environmental and Social Commitment Plan
ESF Environmental and Social Framework
ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
ESMF Environmental and Social Impact Framework
ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan
ESRS Environmental and Social Review Summary
ESS Environmental and Social Standard
E&SS Environmental and Social Specialist
FCV Fragility, Conflict, and Violence
FEMA U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
FERC U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FMEA failure modes and effects analysis
FMECA failure modes, effects, and criticality analysis
GIIP Good International Industry Practice
GNA Guidance Note Annex
GPN Good Practice Note
HEC-FIA Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Flood Impact Analysis
HEC-RAS Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System
ICOLD International Commission on Large Dams
IFC International Finance Corporation
IP Instrumentation Plan
IPF Investment Project Financing
IRRM interim risk reduction measures
LiDAR light detection and ranging
LSM Life Safety Model
MCE maximum credible earthquake
MIGA Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OESRC Operations Environmental and Social Review Committee
O&M operation and maintenance
O&MP Operation and Maintenance Plan
OMS operational manual statement

viii Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

OP Operational Policy
OPCS Operations Policy and Country Services
PAD Project Appraisal Document
PAR population at risk
PCN Project Concept Note
PFMA potential failure mode analysis
PLL potential loss of life
PMF probable maximum flood
POE panel of experts
PPSD Project Procurement Strategy for Development
QBS quality-based selection
QCBS quality cost-based selection
QER Quality Enhancement Review
RSA Regional Environmental and Social Standards Adviser
RFB Request for Bids
RFP Request for Proposal
RIDM Risk-Informed Decision Making
SPD Standard Procurement Document
TA Technical Assistance
TN Technical Note
TOR terms of reference
TT Task Team
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USBR U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
VfM value for money

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety ix

Glossary

Cascade (or The sequential failure of multiple dams within the same catchment basin trig-
Cumulative) Failure gered by the same event.

Catchment The area from which all the water drains naturally into one stream or other body
of water.

Consequence Impacts downstream of a dam, or other areas, caused by a partial or complete

failure of the dam or its appurtenances, or as a result of misoperation and an
uncontrolled reservoir water release. In relation to risk analysis, represents the
outcome or impact of a failure event.

Dam Failure The uncontrolled release of water, sediment, or other stored contents of a reser-
voir through partial or complete collapse of the impounding dam, or the inability
of a dam to fulfil the intended design purposes.

Dam Safety Required minimum criteria and procedures that need to be followed regarding
Requirements dam registration, licensing, construction permission, safety regulation, investiga-
tion, design, operation and maintenance, surveillance, inspection, and so on.

Dam Owner Any person, organization, or entity legally deemed to be the owner and/or
responsible entity of the dam.

Dam Operator Any person, organization, or legal entity that is responsible for the control and
operation and maintenance of the dam, and/or reservoir, and the appurtenant
works.

Dam Portfolio All of the dams that fall under the responsibility of a single owner or single
regulatory regime, or are located within a specific jurisdiction.

Deterministic Describing a process with an outcome that is always the same for a given set of
inputs; hence, the outcome is determined by the input.

Emergency Any condition that develops unexpectedly; endangers the integrity of the dam or
downstream life, property, or the environment; and requires immediate and
coordinated action.

Failure Mode/ A way that failure can occur, described by the means by which element or compo-
Failure Scenario nent failures must occur to cause loss of the subsystem or system function.

Hazard A source of potential harm or a situation with the potential to cause loss. Threat
or condition may result from either an external cause (for example, earthquake,
flood, or human agency) or an internal vulnerability with the potential to initiate a
failure mode.

In dam safety, often seen as a measure of the consequences of dam failure. The
terms hazard and consequence are, therefore, used in the same manner as the
potential losses in the downstream area of the dam in the event of dam failure or
misoperation, resulting in an uncontrolled release of flood waters.

x Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

High Risk When the probability of a hazard or consequence materializing is categorized as
high, or when the product of the probability of dam failure and the subsequent
consequence or hazard is high.

Incident An event that could deteriorate to a very serious situation or endanger the dam, or
an event that would cause harm or damage to the downstream people, property,
or the environment as a result of misoperation.

Inspection A careful and critical observation and examination of all visible aspects of a dam,
searching for abnormal visible phenomena on the surface and inside of the dam.
There are generally several levels of inspection: routine inspection undertaken by
onsite operators and specialized inspection undertaken by experienced dam engi-
neers. Inspection leads to qualitative knowledge about the visible part of the dam.

Instrumentation An arrangement of monitoring instruments or devices installed into dams or

surrounding areas, possibly including the slopes of abutments and reservoir rims,
that provide for measurements that can be used to evaluate the structural behavior,
and load and performance parameters of the structure and surrounding areas.

Maintenance The routine work required to maintain existing facilities and systems (civil
engineering structures; hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical equipment) in a safe
and reliable working condition to fulfil the intended designed purposes with
routine or regular checking, testing, and repair works.

Misoperation Incorrect operation of the dam resulting in an uncontrolled release of water as a

result of not following proper operational procedures for hydraulic facilities,
providing required notification or warning to downstream areas, and so on,
possibly causing casualties and damages.

Monitoring The observing of measuring instruments and devices that can provide quantita-
tive data of physical parameters (for example, displacements, strains, water
pressure, and leakage), which indicate the performance and behavioral trends of a
dam and appurtenant structures, either on its surface or inside its body, and the
recording and review of such data to detect any deficiencies in the dam behavior.

Operation and The operation, maintenance, repairs, replacements, testing, and exercising of any
Maintenance or all portions of the dam’s structure and appurtenant facilities for the life of the
system that are required to ensure facilities and systems are in a safe and reliable
working condition to fulfil the intended purposes.

Population at Risk Number of people directly exposed to floodwaters within the dam break-affected
zone if they took no action to evacuate.

Potential Loss of A subset of population at risk considering a fatality rate and the number of
Life fatalities that would be highly likely because of a dam failure or misoperation,
even if they took action to evacuate.

Portfolio Risk A particular form of risk assessment or analysis that aims to make a comparative
Assessment estimation of risks over all, or many, of the dams of a single owner or single
regulatory or other jurisdiction.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety xi

Portfolio Risk Managing all of, or many of, the dams of a single owner or single regulatory or
Management other jurisdiction by prioritizing the dams that would warrant interventions and
effective remedies in an optimal manner based on a particular form of risk
assessment or analysis.

Potential Failure Any one of several mechanisms or set of circumstances that could result in a dam
Mode failure or an uncontrolled release of a large amount of water.

Potential Failure A process to systematically identify, describe, and evaluate ways a dam and its
Mode Analysis appurtenant structures could fail or cause an uncontrolled release of a large
amount of water.

Probability A measure of the likelihood that a specific event, outcome, or consequence will occur.

Public Safety Protecting the welfare of the general public. Public safety considerations include
potential dangers resulting from misoperations, such as sudden increases in
turbine discharge or the opening of spillway gates without proper downstream
notifications. There are also broader public safety considerations associated with
dam operations and emerging issues of security that go beyond dam safety, which
is primarily concerned with avoiding dam failure.

Qualitative Risk An analysis using descriptive or numeric rating scales to describe the system failure
Analysis likelihood and the magnitude of the subsequent consequences, considering all
potential scenarios leading to dam failure or an uncontrolled release of water.

Quantitative Risk An analysis based on numerical values of the probability of a series of system
Analysis failure events and the magnitude of subsequent consequences, considering all
potential scenarios leading to dam failure or an uncontrolled release of water.

Regulation Written law passed by the executive arm of government under the authority of a
statutory law or act that has been passed by the legislature (legislative arm of
government).

Regulator The authority that administers the relevant act that controls any aspect of dam safety.

Regulatory The structure behind regulations that describes the interaction between the
Framework regulatory instrument (for example, legislation, regulations, codes, industry
standards, guidelines, or even self-regulatory documents) and the expected roles
and responsibilities of the regulator and the person or entity being regulated.

Resilience The capacity of dam safety systems to absorb, accommodate, and adapt to
hazards and threats beyond the design criteria, thus preserving the critical core
systems for maintaining the overall structural safety of the dam and its water
storage and control functions.

Risk Measure of the likelihood/probability and severity of an adverse consequence or

impact to life, health, property, or the environment. In the general case, risk is
estimated by the combined impact of all triplets of scenario, probability of
occurrence, and the associated consequence. In the special case, average risk is
estimated by the mathematical expectation of the consequences of an adverse
event occurring (that is, the product of the probability of occurrence and the
consequence, combined over all scenarios).

xii Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Risk Analysis Used to identify potential failure modes, structural performance, and adverse
consequences of dams using qualitative or quantitative procedures and to
estimate the risk—that is, the combination of likelihood of concurrence and
magnitude of consequences.

Risk Assessment Used to examine the safety of dams, evaluating the results of risk analysis along
with relevant social, environmental, economic, and other factors, and to make
recommendations on risk reduction measures as needed, including additional
investigations and enhanced monitoring.

Risk Index A basic qualitative risk analysis tool for preliminary risk screening of a portfolio of
dams. The risk index is not a measure of risk but a relative indication of potential
level of risk.

Risk-Informed Uses the outcomes of a risk assessment as one of the important factors to support
Approach decision making, along with other factors, such as risk uncertainty, deterministic
analyses, and other local and/or regional considerations.

Risk Management The systematic application of management policies, procedures, and practices to
the tasks of identifying, analyzing, assessing, mitigating, controlling, and moni-
toring risk.

Risk-Based Approach Uses the outcomes of a risk assessment as the basis for decision making.

Safety Review A procedure for assessing the safety of a dam, composed of a detailed examina-
tion of structural, hydraulic, hydrological, and geotechnical design aspects and of
all relevant design, construction, and surveillance records and reports to assess
the integrity of a dam.

Standards-Based The traditional approach to dams engineering in which risks are controlled by
Approach following established rules as to design events and loads, structural capacity,
safety coefficients, and defensive design measures.

Supervising A suitably trained engineer recognized under dam safety laws to competently
Engineer supervise all or specific aspects of a dam’s design and construction or ongoing
management.

Surveillance The continuing examination of the condition of a dam and its appurtenant
structures aimed at managing risk and reducing the probability of occurrence by
providing a means of early identification of any phenomena that can compromise
the structural and operating integrity of the structure or its related operating
equipment, including monitoring instrumentation, data interpretation, routine
supervision, visual observation or inspection, tests of safety-related hydrome-
chanical equipment, periodic audit, and dam safety review.

Threat An event that might cause damage or danger to the safety of a dam.

Vulnerability The level or degree of exposure of structures or areas to potential hazards to be

adversely affected because of their locations, conditions, and other relevant factors.

Watershed An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers or basins.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety xiii

Chapter 1
Introduction

The objective of this Good Practice Note (GPN) on Dam Safety is to provide additional guidance to World
Bank staff on the application of relevant requirements under the Environmental and Social Framework
(ESF). Such provisions are found in Environmental and Social Standard 4 (ESS4): Community Health
and Safety and its Annex 1 on Safety of Dams. ESS4 stipulates, “Where the project involves a new or
existing dam, the Borrower will provide sufficient resources to apply the requirements on safety of
dams, as set out in Annex 1.”1 This GPN in particular provides guidance on using a risk management
approach to the application of the dam safety requirements.

The GPN is one of a series accompanying the ESF to support its implementation, developed in partner-
ship with specialists from inside and outside the World Bank and designed to be reviewed and updated
periodically, when appropriate. The guidance contained in this note is designed to enhance the quality
of practice without creating new requirements for the application of the ESF. It should be read with the
ESF and regarded as complementary to, not a replacement of, the compliance requirements contained
in the ESF, including the policy;2 ESS1 to ESS10, in particular ESS4; and the accompanying Guidance
Notes for Borrowers.

The GPN provides guidance on compliance requirements, a risk management approach to dam safety,
risk analysis tools, quality of information and capacity, application to World Bank operations, and pro-
cedural aspects in Chapters 3 to 8.

The GPN pertains to: (a) construction of new dams or dams under construction (DUC) under Investment
Project Financing (IPF); (b) rehabilitation of existing dams under IPF; and (c) existing dams or DUC that
are not financed under IPF, on which the project relies or may rely.3 This is elaborated on in Chapter 3.
It  should be noted that the GPN is relevant not only when dam construction and rehabilitation is
financed by the World Bank but also in the case of co-financed projects when the dam is financed by the
borrower or another co-financier but part of the project or associated with it.

In addition to this GPN, six Technical Notes (TNs) have been prepared to provide more detailed explana-
tion and guidance on: hydrological risk (World Bank 2020g), geotechnical risk (World Bank 2020h), seis-
mic risk (World Bank 2020i), small dam safety (World Bank 2020j), potential failure mode analysis
(PFMA) (World Bank 2020k), and portfolio risk assessment using risk index (World Bank 2020l). Also,
six appendixes are provided for sample frameworks of four dam safety plans (World Bank 2020a,
2020b, 2020c, 2020d) (see table 3.1), as well as sample terms of reference for panel of experts for new
dam safety review (World Bank 2020e) and safety assessment for existing dams (World Bank 2020f).

1. ESS4, paragraph 8.
2. World Bank Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing (2016), paragraph 9.
3. ESF/ESS4 Annex 1, paragraphs 8–13 provide relevant provisions for existing dams and DUC on which World Bank-financed projects rely or
may rely.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 1

These are further expected to be complemented through a series of case studies and practice examples
from the World Bank-financed projects.

It should be noted that tailings storage facilities are subject to the ESS4 Annex 1,4 and the procedural
aspect and high-level safety management concept of the GPN should be relevant for such facilities. The
TN on tailings storage facilities (World Bank 2020m) provides detailed guidance on their distinct techni-
cal elements and challenges in safety management.5

It is important that Task Teams, Environment and Social Specialists, and Dam Safety Specialists coordi-
nate from the early stage of project preparation to assess the potential risks and agree on the measures
that should be captured in the ESF-related documents (see Chapter 8). The TNs and appendixes are
intended to be used by technical specialists of the World Bank and borrowers related to dam safety who
should be able to provide support for the project teams.6

4. The dams under ESF include tailings storage facilities and dams as under paragraph 2b—(a) retention of toxic materials and (b) are expected
to become large dams during their operational life—as well as footnote 7, indicating “a tailings or a slimes dam or an ash impoundment
dam” of ESS4 Annex 1.
5. While water storage dams are usually built by concrete or a combination of rockfill and soils to the full height before reservoir filling and
operation, most tailings storage facilities are incrementally built with designs that partially depend on the tailings themselves for support
and operated during the incremental building phase. Also, construction of a tailings storage facility may take many decades until it reaches
final design height, with a single tailings storage facility often being used for the entire life of the mine. During the operational period of
tailings storage facilities, many changes are likely to take place, including the operation and management personnel, creating additional
challenges.
6. Wishart et al. (2020) also provides useful and relevant information on the development and assessment of appropriate regulatory frame-
works for dam safety assurance.

2 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Chapter 2
Background

The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) offers broad and systematic coverage of environmental
and social risks. It requires attention be paid to such issues throughout the preparation and implemen-
tation of a project, with increased focus on stakeholder engagement and monitoring. It clarifies roles
and responsibilities between the World Bank and its borrowers and sets out a risk management approach
proportionate and tailored to the risks and impacts of projects.

Dam safety is intended to secure the water and services for which the dam was developed, as well as to
protect and ensure the resilience of downstream communities, assets, and infrastructure, and the ESF
reflects the steps in the evolution of the World Bank’s approach (figure 2.1). The requirements of the ESF
apply to all new projects from October 2018, replacing the provisions of Operational Policy (OP)/Bank
Procedure (BP) 4.37: Safety of Dams.1

In the field of dam safety, risk is defined by the likelihood of an event and the associated consequences.
The risks associated with the safety of dams are design- and situation-specific.2 These will vary depend-
ing on the structural components, socioeconomic factors, and the environment within which the dam
is being constructed and will operate. Application of the requirements in the ESF with respect to the
safety of dams will need to reflect these considerations and be proportionate to the size, complexity,
and potential risk of the dam.

The specific provisions relating to the safety of dams are intended to address safety and security risks,
impacts on project-affected communities, and the corresponding responsibility of borrowers to avoid or
minimize such risks and impacts consistent with the mitigation hierarchy in Environmental and Social
Standard 1 (ESS1), paragraph 27. The likelihood of an event undermining the safety of a dam can be
reduced through careful design, construction, and operation and maintenance. The potential down-
stream consequences depend on several external factors beyond the dam owner, but these can at least
be mitigated through appropriate measures intended to give particular attention to people who, because
of their particular circumstances, may be vulnerable or disadvantaged.

FIGURE 2.1. Evolution of Dam Safety Policies

June 1977 October 2001 October 2018

OMS 3.80 OP/BP 4.37 ESS4 Annex 1

Note: BP = Bank Procedure; ESS = Environmental and Social Standard; OMS = operational manual statement; OP = Operational Policy.

1. Projects with a concept before October 1, 2018, and their Additional Financing are subject to OP/BP 4.37.
2. ESF/ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 4.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 3

Chapter 3
ESF Requirements on Dam Safety

The dam safety requirements of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)/Environmental and
Social Standard 4 (ESS4) Annex 1 are applied to the following dams:

•• Large new dams, which are defined as dams with either

 A height of 15 meters or greater from the lowest foundation to crest; or

 Between 5 and 15 meters, impounding more than 3 million cubic meters.

•• All other new dams regardless of size or retention capacity (referred to as small dams) that

 Could cause safety risks, such as

– An unusually large flood-handling requirement;

– Location in a zone of high seismicity;

– Foundations that are complex and difficult to prepare;

– Retention of toxic materials; or

– Potential for significant downstream impacts.

 Are expected to become large dams during their operating life.

If a dam does not fall into these two categories, dam safety measures designed by qualified engineers in
accordance with Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) will be adopted and implemented (see also
section on Small and Low-Risk Dams).

Existing dams or dams under construction (DUC), upon which an Investment Project Financing (IPF)
project relies or may rely on, are also addressed in ESS4 Annex 1.1 Further details are included in the next
section on Safety Assessment of Existing Dams and DUC on Which World Bank-Funded Projects Rely.

It should be noted that three major modifications have been introduced under the provisions of ESS4
from Operational Policy (OP)/Bank Procedure (BP) 4.37. These include: (a) lowering the threshold for
large dams with a reservoir capacity greater than 3 million cubic meters from 10 meters to 5 meters in
height; (b) including all other dams, regardless of size or retention capacity (referred to as small dams)
that could cause safety risks; and, (c) explicitly introducing a proportional risk management approach to
the application of the dam safety requirements, considering a dam’s size, complexity, and potential risk.

The specific application of the dam safety requirements per ESS4 Annex 1 is summarized in table 3.1
for the three types of recurrent operations involving dams: (a) construction of new dams or DUCs;2
(b) rehabilitation of existing dams; and (c) projects that rely or may rely on existing dams’ or

1. ESF/ESS4 Annex 1, paragraphs 8–13 provide relevant provisions for existing dams and DUC on which World Bank-financed projects rely or
may rely. This includes upgrading and raising of existing dams.
2. This includes construction of a new dam and DUC financed by the borrower and/or other multilateral and bilateral financing agencies as an
integral part of World Bank-funded projects under a co-financing or parallel financing agreement.

4 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

TABLE 3.1. Guidance on the Application of the ESF/ESS4 Annex 1 Requirements in Different Types of World Bank

World Bank-financed projects World Bank-financed projects involving World Bank-financed project that relies or may rely on the
involving new dams or DUCs rehabilitation of existing dams performance of one or more existing dams and/or DUCs
Reviews by an independent POE Borrower assesses whether the dam has the potential Reviews borrower’s assessment report by one or more
of the investigation, design, and of significant impacts downstream or it exhibits independent dam specialists on conditions of the existing
construction of the dam until complex technical features (substantial or high dams or DUC and dam safety management system.c
completion of dam performance risk). One or more dam specialists may be needed One or more independent dam specialists may be needed
review after first reservoir filling.a to carry out the assessment, including on needed to carry out the assessment of the dam’s safety condition
(See Appendix 5 for sample TORs.) rehabilitation/safety improvement measures. and O&M procedures, including any remedial and safety
A PFMAb conducted by an individual consultant or a improvement measures to an acceptable standard of safety.
consulting firm may be necessary, depending on the (See the paragraph after this table and Appendix 6 for sample
above findings. TORs.) The needs of POE would be reviewed case by case.

A high-risk dam, which would involve complex and A PFMA, conducted by an individual consultant or a consulting
significant remedial works, would require reviews by POE. firm, may be necessary, depending on the above findings.

Preparation and implementation of For projects that include additional dam safety Rehabilitation measures required: same provisions as World
the following detailed plans (dam measures or require remedial works, detailed dam Bank financing of rehabilitation of existing dams.
safety plans): safety plans are updated or prepared if not in No rehabilitation measures required but borrower’s dam
• CSQAP place. The scope and depth of such plans should be safety management system not satisfactory to the World
commensurate with the works and site condition. Bank: update or prepare and implement dam safety plans
• IP
For a high- and substantial-risk dam or presence and provide related training to dam operators.
• O&MP
of complex technical features: same provisions as
• EPP World Bank financing of new dams or DUCs (including
(See Appendixes 1–4 for sample independent POE).
frameworks for the four dam safety Implement needed measures identified in the PFMA.
plans.)
For a low- to moderate-risk dam and absence of
complex technical features:

• Qualified engineers are involved in design and

supervision of rehabilitation works; and

• Dam safety plans are updated or prepared if not in

place.

Prequalification of bidders during Prequalification of bidders may not be required unless the If rehabilitation measures are required, suitable quality
procurement and bid tendering.d project involves substantial and complex remedial works. control mechanism is to be arranged.

Periodic safety inspections of the dam Periodic safety inspection procedures are defined in Periodic safety inspection procedures are defined in the
after completione and implementation the O&MP. O&MP.
of measures required to address safety
deficiencies. Periodic safety inspection
procedures are defined in the O&MP.

Note: CSQAP = Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan; DUC = dam under construction; EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; FERC = U.S. Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission; IP = Instrumentation Plan; O&M = operation and maintenance; O&MP = Operation and Maintenance Plan; PFMA = potential failure mode analysis;
POE = panel of experts; TOR = terms of reference.
a. In case of staged filling, the borrower may disband the POE when, based on their advice, a suitable water level has been reached. Some projects extend the project
implementation period for about two years after completion of the dam and associated structures, which would allow them to undertake a comprehensive monitoring and
inspection for about one year after the first reservoir filling completion, which constitutes a good practice.
b. PFMA, originally developed by the FERC, requires dam owners to perform a qualitative risk assessment to identify potential failure modes and to assess required remedial works,
monitoring instrumentation, and so on. It has established a basis for dam safety performance assessment and provides an opportunity for comprehensive safety enhancements that
might be overlooked by a traditional standards-based approach. A dedicated Technical Note for Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) has been prepared (World Bank 2020k).
c. The World Bank may accept previous assessments of dam safety or recommendations of improvements needed in the existing dam or DUC if the borrower provides
evidence that: (a) an effective dam safety program is already in operation and (b) full-level inspections and dam safety assessments of the existing dam or DUC, which are
satisfactory to the World Bank, have already been conducted and documented.
d. See the section on Prequalification or Initial Selection of Bidders in Chapter 8.
e. One of the borrower’s specialized entities or consulting firms or a POE may carry out such inspections. Either party should be independent from the dam operator. The
World Bank may require evidence of such inspections as part of the sector dialogue with the country.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 5

DUCs’ performance. The table provides guidance for key dam safety requirements: (a) panel of experts
(POE), (b) dam safety plans,3 (c) prequalification, and (d) dam safety inspection after closure. In addi-
tion, the section on Key Steps by World Bank Staff in Project Preparation and Implementation in Chapter
8 provides further detailed guidance on such dam safety requirements at various project stages (see
table 8.1). The dam safety requirements differ between (a) World Bank-financed projects involving dams
and (b) World Bank-financed projects that do not include dams but rely on them—these tables are for-
matted so that these distinctions can be easily understood.

Safety Assessment of Existing Dams and DUC on Which World Bank-Funded

Projects Rely
In the case of a World Bank-funded project for water supply, irrigation, hydropower, and so on, which
relies or may rely on the performance of an existing dam or DUC, because of the possibility that the safe
and reliable operation of upstream dams and/or World Bank-funded invested facilities could be subject
to extensive damage or failure, the borrower is required to hire one or more independent dam special-
ists and experts to: (a) inspect and examine the safety status of the dam and appurtenant structures and
its performance history; (b) review and evaluate the owner’s operation and maintenance procedures;
and (c) provide a report on findings and recommendations for any remedial work or safety enhancement
measures to upgrade the existing dam or DUC to an acceptable standard of safety.4

This requirement includes existing dams or those to be funded for rehabilitation, expansion (for exam-
ple, dam height raising), or completion by the borrower and/or other multilateral and bilateral agencies
located in the upstream of World Bank-funded projects.5 For example, in case of an existing dam being
raised for significantly increased storage capacity6 with major rehabilitation or safety works, on which
the World Bank-funded water supply project relies in the downstream area of the dam, the World Bank
should discuss and agree on the dam safety requirements under the ESF/ESS4, including an indepen-
dent dam safety review mechanism (for example, terms of reference [TORs] for POE) with the borrower
and other financing institutions.

In the case of an existing dam located upstream of a World Bank-funded project, it is important to under-
take an assessment of downstream consequences and impacts on the facilities to be funded by the
World Bank in case of dam failure, including damage or failure of World Bank-invested facilities. The
section on Consequence Assessment in Chapter 7 provides some benchmarks for potential areas with
downstream impacts and should be subject to specific assessment case by case.

3. Although ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 14 refers to “dam safety reports,” the report is composed of four dam safety plans, as shown in the same
paragraph from (a) to (d). Also, dam safety report could be mixed up with dam safety assessment or review report. Hence, this note consis-
tently uses dam safety plan with reference to paragraph 14.
4. ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 8. Note also that ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 10 states that the World Bank can rely on an existing dam safety assess-
ment if: (a) an effective dam safety program is already in operation and (b) full-level inspections and dam safety assessments of the existing
dam or DUC have already been conducted and documented, and are satisfactory to the Bank.
5. World Bank Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing (2016), paragraph 9 in relation to possible adoption of a
“common approach.”
6. Storage increase of 10 percent the existing gross reservoir capacity, or dam crest’s rising above 4 meters, is considered significantly
increased storage, as general guidelines.

6 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Small and Low-Risk Dams
Dams that do not fall into the previous categories7 (which would not cause safety risks or be expected to
become large dams) must have dam safety measures that are designed and implemented by qualified
engineers. Such measures should take into account the borrower’s capacity and need to be carried out
in accordance with GIIP.8 The borrower may need provision of technical assistance or training to meet
these requirements.

In such circumstances, the borrower will confirm, through the environmental and social assessment,
that there will be no or negligible risk of significant adverse impacts as a result of potential failure of the
dam structure to local communities and assets, including assets to be financed as part of the proposed
project. The assessment should follow the definition given earlier, with adequate contextualization.
Such dams could include farm ponds, local silt retention dams, and low embankment tanks.9

7. The categorized dams refer to ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 2.

8. ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 5. Please refer to the reference list of the Technical Note on Small Dam Safety (World Bank 2020j). Three are
­particularly useful for small dam safety management: (a) Cemagref Editions and Engref (France), with French Committee on Large Dams,
Small Dams: Guidelines for Design, Construction and Monitoring (Cemagref and Engref, with French Committee on Large Dams, 2002);
(b) ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams), “Small Dams: Design, Surveillance and Rehabilitation” (Bulletin 157, ICOLD, Paris,
2016), https://www.icold-cigb.org/GB/publications/bulletins.asp; and (c) FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Manual on Small Earth
Dams: A Guide to Siting, Design and Construction (Rome, FAO, 2012), www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1531e/i1531e.pdf. Per ESS1, footnote 23, GIIP
is defined as the exercise of professional skill, diligence, prudence, and foresight that would reasonably be expected from skilled and expe-
rienced professionals engaged in the same type of undertaking under the same or similar circumstances globally or regionally. The outcome
of such exercise should be that the project employs the most appropriate technologies in the project-specific circumstances.
9. ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 5, footnote 9.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 7

Chapter 4
A Risk-Management Approach to Dam Safety

The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) places more emphasis on building capacity within the
borrower to deal with social and environmental aspects by offering broader and more systematic cover-
age of risks. Environmental and Social Standard 4 (ESS4) Annex 1, addressing the safety of dams, intro-
duces a comprehensive risk management approach in line with Good International Industry Practice
(GIIP).1 In the context of dam safety, risk is defined as a measure of both the likelihood and consequences
of an adverse event on downstream communities, environment, assets, and infrastructure.2

In a simple form, risk can be expressed as the expected value of risk calculated as the product of likeli-
hood of dam failure and the consequences of subsequent flooding. The likelihood of dam failure can be
further broken down to the probability of occurrence of (a) threats to, and loads upon, a dam (for exam-
ple, storm, earthquake, and so on) and (b) the probability of the dam structure/reservoir performance or
response leading to dam failure because of the threats and loads (see figure 4.1). Consequences repre-
sent negative effects resulting from an uncontrolled release of a large amount of water—not necessarily
involving failure of the dam body but caused by failure or misoperation of spillway gates and so on—in
terms of loss of life and other social, environmental, and economic impacts.3

In mathematical terms, risk can be characterized by the probability distribution of consequences. This
is because the level of impacts or consequences of the dam failure/uncontrolled release of water depends
on: (a) the size and scale of the threats to the dam (for example, intensity of the storm or earthquake);
(b) the way the dam fails—that is, failure mode;4 and (c) the time when the dam fails (day or night, week-
end or weekday, winter or summer, and so on). The risk is thus estimated by combining the probability
and consequence of each failure mode covering over all scenarios.5

Broad risk management approaches are increasingly being used to inform dam safety assurance, which
is likely the result of increased stock of aging dams around the world and more frequent dam safety

1. Annex A provides a list of useful references. It should be noted that good international practice varies in space (country to country and
within countries) and in time (continuous improvement and new approaches). As mentioned in note 8 of Chapter 3, GIIP is defined in ESS1,
footnote 23.
2. The consequence assessment should also cover the impacts on the dam and associated facilities, as well as their lost operational functions
for water supply, hydropower generation, and so on.
3. This note uses the word consequence in an interchangeable manner with hazard, following the practice in dams engineering. Although
hazard in general refers to threat or condition that may result from either an external cause (for example, earthquake, flood, or human
agency) or an internal threat or vulnerability (for example, internal erosion or piping) with the potential to initiate a failure mode, it is often
referred to as a measure of consequences of dam failure (ICOLD 2005).
4. ICOLD Bulletin 130 (2005) defines failure mode as “a way that failure can occur, described by the means by which elements or component
failures must occur to cause loss of sub-system or system function.” The ISO International Standard “Risk Management – Risk Assessment
Techniques” states that “a failure mode is what is observed to fail or to perform incorrectly.” A failure mode is an event associated with
unacceptable or deviant function or behavior, and it is a direct effect of failure mechanism. On the other hand, failure mechanism is a spe-
cific sequence of events that can lead to a dam failure, must be linked to a loading scenario, and has a logic sequence—an initiating event,
one or more events of progressive failure, and ending with dam failure or uncontrolled release of a large amount of water. Failure mecha-
nism is associated with deviant physical conditions or physical states and is a direct cause of a failure mode.
5. Source: Environment Agency, Guide to Risk Assessment for Reservoir Safety Management – Volume 1 (Bristol, U.K.: Environment Agency,
2013). Figure 4.1 is also adapted from the Guide.

8 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

FIGURE 4.1. Conceptual Diagram of Threats/Loads, Dam Response/Performance, and Consequences

Loads and external threats

e.g. landslides

Dam failure/
uncontrolled
release of water

Consequences (impacts)

Internal
threats

Earthquakes

Source: Adapted from Environment Agency. 2013. Guide to Risk Assessment for Reservoir Safety Management – Volume 1. Bristol, U.K.:
Environment Agency.

incidents because of nonstructural and contextual causes that are not well-captured by the traditional
standard-based approach. There is also greater societal demand for full transparency, higher safety lev-
els, better justification of the use of public and private funds, and the need to prioritize remedial action
in reducing risks to acceptable6 levels, as defined by dam safety practice.7 Risk management approaches
to dam safety assurance typically include the following process: (a) risk analysis,8 (b) risk assessments,9
(c) decision making for risk control and reduction measures, and (d) monitoring and evaluation. There
is an important feedback loop in this approach—when the results of risk monitoring and evaluation are
fed back into risk analysis and assessment, as well as any decisions needed on risk control and reduction
measures. Robust operation and maintenance mechanism should be established and maintained to
keep effective risk management system in place throughout the life cycle of the project. Given the
breadth of this approach, dam safety practitioners increasingly refer to this as Risk-Informed Decision

6. Please refer to the risk mitigation hierarchy in ESS1, paragraph 27, which states “minimize or reduce risks and impacts to acceptable level.”
The acceptability of residual risks may need case-by-case discussions with the Environmental and Social Specialist and the Dam Safety
Specialist. For information, the dam safety community generally uses the terminology of tolerable risk. Based on the U.K. Health and Safety
Executive (2001) and ICOLD Bulletin 130 (2005), a tolerable risk criteria has been adopted for risk management of dams in various jurisdic-
tions in Australia, Canada, the United States, and so on, and most risk management guidelines for dams also use it.
7. Chapter 6 of “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities”
(Wishart et al. 2020) provides comprehensive overview of the risk tolerability.
8. Risk analysis is to identify potential failure modes, structural performance, and adverse consequences of dams using qualitative or quanti-
tative procedures and to estimate the risk—that is, a combination of likelihood of concurrence and magnitude of consequences.
9. Risk assessment is to examine the safety of dams, evaluating the results of risk analysis along with relevant social, environmental, eco-
nomic, and other factors, and to make recommendations on risk reduction measures as needed, including additional investigations and
enhanced monitoring.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 9

Making (RIDM) with its emphasis on a comprehensive decision-making process not based solely on
numerical risk estimates but also deterministic analytical results and other relevant factors.

RIDM can be broadly defined as “a method of dam safety evaluation that uses the likelihood of loading,
dam fragility, and consequences of failure to estimate risk. This risk estimate is used, along with stan-
dards-based analyses, to decide if dam safety investments are justified or warranted. This approach has
many benefits including an improved understanding of the safety of the dam and identifying dam safety
vulnerabilities that have not been identified using standards-based evaluation techniques.”10

In conclusion, it is important to keep in mind that the risk is not static and will change depending on the
condition of the dam and during the project cycle and so on.11 The consequences of dam failure and
subsequent flooding can also change for various reasons, such as growth in the population and assets in
downstream areas of a dam.

10. Source: U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/hydropower/dam-safety-and-inspections​/

risk-informed-decision-making-ridm.
11. Statistics clearly show that rate of failure is highest in the initial few years after the first reservoir filling. Failures in that period are generally
the consequence of flaws in design or construction, as well as dysfunctional operation. They can also gradually evolve, if undetected, to an
incident or failure at a later stage. If that is not the case, external hazards (floods, earthquakes, and so on), as well as nonstandard events
(human error, lack of access, gate operation issue, and so on) could activate failure mechanisms. The failure likelihood can also increase as
a result of structural degradation, increased floods by catchment degradation, and so on. The surveillance system should be able to detect
the potential failure mechanism, analyze it, and implement remedial measures. P. Reagan, “Dams and Civil Structures: An Examination of
Dam Failures vs. Age of Dams,” Hydro Review 29, no. 4 (2010) https://www.hydroreview.com/2010/06/01/dams-civil-structures/#gref;
P. Mèan and P. Droz, “Improving Dam Safety with a Surveillance Self-Assessment Toolkit,” Hydropower & Dams, 26, 3, page 86-96 (2019).

10 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Chapter 5
Risk Analysis Tools

Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM) consists of applying a combination of risk-based and stan-
dards-based analyses. Several tools have been developed and applied in international practice that can
be broadly divided into two groups: standard-based and risk-based, and the latter is subdivided into two
subgroups—that is, qualitative and quantitative methods (table 5.1). It should be noted that one form of
analysis is not necessarily superior to another, provided it is appropriate for the decision context
and carried out in terms of established principles of scientific analysis. World Bank operations typically
rely on two qualitative risk analysis tools: risk indexes and potential failure mode analysis (PFMA).1

TABLE 5.1. Types of Risk Analyses

Type of tools Risk content Applicability to World Bank operations

Standard-based Risk is not explicit in design. This is the traditional Traditionally done. At the base of design criteria
approach to dam engineering, whereby risks are (hydrological, seismic safety, and so on) and
controlled by following established rules with varying compliance requirements (for example, panel
degrees of conservatism as to design events and of experts, dam safety management plans,
loads, structural capacity, safety coefficients, and prequalification of bidders, and so on).
defensive design measures.

Risk-based Increasingly used, particularly for assessing safety Applies to all World Bank-financed projects involving
of existing dams to identify higher-risk dams and dams in a proportionate manner to size, complexity,
prioritizing the most critical and effective remedies. and potential risks.

– Qualitative Risk is explicit, but no mathematical characterization Qualitative methods have been mostly used in World
methods (no probabilities of failure). Risk indexa is the simplest Bank operations, and it is expected that they will
method in this group and useful in risk assessment continue to be the main resource tool.
of a large portfolio of dams. It can inform decisions
on monitoring and surveillance programs, prioritizing
more detailed studies, and dam safety improvements.

– Quantitative Fully risk-based. Analysis is based on numerical Expected to be occasionally needed in World Bank
methods values of the potential failure mode’s likelihood and operations when complicated or substantial remedial
consequences, the intention being that such values works are involved. Those cases would require
are a valid representation of the actual magnitude of specialized input in terms of both the data and
the consequences and the probability of the various expertise.
failure modes/scenarios, which are examined.

a. See Technical Note for Portfolio Risk Assessment Using Risk Index (World Bank 2020l), which also explains that risk index method can also
be developed linking with failure modes.

1. Further detailed tools have been developed by various entities, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Risk Management Center, Ontario
Power Generation, Hatch, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ontario Province, Canada, and so on. In addition to the PFMA,
failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and failure modes, effects, and criticality analysis (FMECA) may also be used with inductive
methods for potential failures analysis of a system. They consider each component of a system and analyze its failure modes and their
causes and effects. The probability and severity of each failure mode is also assessed, which provides a characterization of its criticality in
a qualitative manner using ranked scores. Some European countries have been using this type of approach for risk assessment. In particu-
lar, the United Kingdom has been using FMECA with a guideline: Risk Management for UK Reservoirs (London: Construction Industry
Research and Information Association, 2000).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 11

Detailed information on risk-informed approaches to the safety of dams is also provided in the global
comparative assessment of legal and institutional frameworks for dam safety (Wishart et al. 2020).2

It should be noted that reviewing design criteria and standards (essentially factors of safety) pertains to
the standard-based approach, as has always been done in projects involving large dams and still must be
done. Engaging an experienced design team and an independent safety review (for example, panel of
experts) are the two basic ingredients.

2. Chapter 6 of “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities”
(Wishart et al. 2020) provides details of risk-informed approach adopted by various countries/jurisdiction based on the review of relevant
ICOLD bulletins and guidelines by various institutions of the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries. The chapter reviewed
typical steps for dam safety risk management, including identification of failure modes, risk estimation and analysis, risk assessment
and evaluation, along with decision making for risk control and prioritization of risk reduction measures for a portfolio of dams in an opti-
mized manner. The chapter also reviewed the risk tolerability criteria and practice by various countries and institutions. Although this note
does not provide specific recommendations on quantitative risk assessment methods, risk tolerability criteria, and so on, some readers may
refer to the report for more detailed information.

12 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Chapter 6
Quality of Information and Institutional Capacity

Virtually all risk analyses and assessments are strongly influenced by the quality of information avail-
able to produce a qualified assessment. Information availability presents an overarching challenge that
can obscure the assessment of both failure likelihood and consequences. Sometimes, information reli-
ability is regarded as a third dimension of risk.

The scope of any analysis needs to be fit for purpose and informed by the context. The risks associated
with the safety of dams vary depending on the structural components, socioeconomic factors, and the
environment within which the dam is being constructed and will operate. Application of the
Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) requirements with respect to the safety of dams will need
to reflect these considerations and be proportionate to the size, complexity, and potential risks and
impacts. To do that, the method of analysis selected should take into account and be compatible with
the available level of knowledge about

•• Infrastructure (for example, conditions of the works and structural components);

•• Institution (for example, management structure and capacity of dam owner, operator, and
­regulator); and

•• Information (for example, monitoring and surveillance data, downstream population, assets, and
so on).1

It would be inappropriate and misleading to advance to a complex method of risk analysis and assess-
ment when the state of knowledge on the infrastructure, institutions, and/or information is inadequate.
Identification of the “weakest I” is the entry point to assess the support needed to improve the founda-
tions for risk-informed dam safety management. Such needs assessments should be considered as a
­component of projects involving the construction of large dams, major dam rehabilitation programs, or
projects with high risks with due consideration to long-term operation and maintenance capacity. It may
also be appropriate for the World Bank to provide technical assistance for enhancing the quality of infor-
mation and the capacity of the borrower. The client-appointed panel of experts can also add value by
advising on specific subject-related matters and working closely with counterparts to build capacity.2

The concept of proportionality is central to the application of the requirements of the ESF. The level of
effort and resources required for any risk assessment should be commensurate with the decision to be
made. It is also important to consider the nature, importance, and precedence of the decision in deter-
mining the level of effort and degree of detail within the risk assessment. Any further improvement in
the assessment of risk, if required, should be tailored to the specifics of the case in hand.3

1. The list of information can be extensive. Separate Technical Notes provide guidance on the quality issue of data and information of geolog-
ical, geotechnical, seismic, hydrological, climate, and other aspects.
2. The proportionality concept is also referred to the decision support tool for dam safety assurance framework under “Laying the Foundations:
A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al. 2020).
3. A decision-support tool for developing and enhancing the dam safety assurance framework provided through a global assessment of rele-
vant legal and institutional measures provides a useful accompaniment to this note (Wishart et al. 2020).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 13

 Preliminary risk assessment and classification by the borrower should be the first essential steps, which
will allow a decision on whether the existing knowledge level is adequate to carry out an informed risk
assessment. If not, the project should include a technical assistance component aimed at improving the
level of knowledge to the extent required by the risk level of the specific case. That may also entail
­generating the minimum required database to arrive at acceptable levels of reliability. As stated earlier,
the 3 I’s approach can be used to make such capacity assessment.

Several tools are shown in figure 6.1, in which a progressive approach can be taken from the lower-left
corner to the upper-right corner. To apply a more advanced and detailed tool in a meaningful manner,
the level of knowledge—that is, quality of information and data—needs to be enhanced. Descriptions of
the indicated tools (risk indexes, potential failure mode analysis [PFMA], dynamic simulation models,
and so on) are provided in the following paragraphs. Detailed guidance for application of a risk index
and PFMA is provided under separate Technical Notes (World Bank 2020l, 2020k). External experts may
be needed to advise on detailed risk analysis for high-risk cases when the borrower’s knowledge and
capacity are limited. The principle of proportionality, embedded in the ESF, should feature prominently
in the selection of the appropriate risk analysis tool. As shown in figure 6.1, proportionality should be
based on two key elements: risk level and knowledge level. It must be stressed again that the prelimi-
nary risk level determines the appropriate risk analysis tool to be used, and that, in turn, requires an
appropriate knowledge level. In substantial- to high-risk cases, it may be necessary to improve the level
of knowledge and/or the capacity of the borrower or the borrower’s implementing agency and enhance
consultation with relevant stakeholders.

FIGURE 6.1. Conceptual Representation of Risk Analysis Tools

Dynamic simulation
model for EPP
High

Preliminary consequence assessment

study and consequence

Dam break, inundation

Semi/full quantitative
Preliminary risk classification

risk analysis
assessment
Essential level

Full PFMA
Moderate
Risk level

Simplified PFMA

Risk index matrix

Low

Insufficient/inadequate Adequate
Knowledge level

Note: EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; PFMA = potential failure mode analysis.

14 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Chapter 7
Application to World Bank Operations

General Guidance and Essential Tools

The following framework provides guidance for the application of the qualitative and quantitative
assessment tools to typical situations encountered in World Bank projects involving large dams (see also
table 7.1). Application of the tools is presented in three tiers:

•• First tier (all dams): It is expected that this level of preliminary assessment is essential for all proj-
ects involving dams.

•• Second tier (moderate- to high-risk dams): Dam break analysis and inundation studies are manda-
tory for large dams and small dams that could cause safety risks and existing dams that include
additional dam safety measures or require remedial work. This will also allow for refining risk
assessment. Risk index schemes considering potential failure modes and/or simplified potential
failure mode analysis (PFMA) may be necessary depending on results of the preliminary assess-
ment along with additional knowledge and information.

•• Third tier (high-risk dams involving complex works): This may be required for high-risk cases
involving complex works. Adequate information needs to be provided for the advanced risk
assessment.

When higher risks are identified by the initial assessment, the borrower needs to advance to the next tier
for more detailed analyses and assessment. Although one could gradually go up from the first tier to the
second and third as required, they could go directly to the second or third tier when the risk of the dam
and project intervention clearly requires a higher level of analysis. The risk classification per se is
explained in the next section, but the Task Team should consult with Dam Safety Specialists (DSS)
regarding the appropriate level of risk assessment for each project.

Risk Classification by the Borrower

The borrower’s risk classification for the dam project should be reviewed considering: (a) potential
threats and loads, (b) key features and conditions of dams, and (c) consequences in case of dam failure.
Note this risk classification by the borrower will be taken into account in the overall project risk classifi-
cation done by the World Bank, under the Environmental and Social Policy and the Environmental and
Social Directive for Investment Project Financing (IPF). When the capacity of borrowers is weak, the
team should assist them in undertaking preliminary risk assessment with reference to the section on

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 15

Potential Failure Modes and Consequence Assessment. The designated dam safety risk classification, its
basis, and required mitigation measures should be reviewed and provided for the Environmental and
Social Review Summary (ESRS)1 by the DSS in coordination with the Environmental and Social Specialist
(E&SS), providing inputs for the overall rating of the Environmental and Social Risk Classification.
Further details are provided in the following sections for new dams and existing dams.

TABLE 7.1. Guidance for Risk Assessment Level and Tools

Risk assessment level/tools Guidance Remarks

First tier (all dams)

Preliminary consequence Assessment should cover: It is always necessary to assess the consequences of dam failure
assessment • PARa or incident in a manner suitable to local contexts. The extent
• Economic impact to which this determination is required depends on how risk
• Environmental and social impact analysis informs the decision process.

Preliminary risk classification Refer to national dams classification system, Many countries have developed dam classification systems,b
if any which would be a starting point for discussing the required
safety standard and requirements for dams under World Bank
operations.

Classification system for new dams c

This classification of dam risk is of very simple use for four proxy
parameters to assess potential risk class of dams (see section on
Risk Classification by the Borrower).

Existing dams classification system The risk classification is based on the risk concept, which is the
product of two factors: likelihood of failure and consequence of
failure (see section on Potential Failure Modes and Consequence
Assessment).

Second tier (moderate- to high-risk dams)

Dam break and inundation impact Mandatory for large dams and small dams that • Collate input data (for example, hydrological or topographic).
assessment could cause safety risks and existing dams that • Define breach scenarios (or potential dam failure modes for
include additional dam safety measures or comprehensive assessment) and breach parameters.
require remedial work.
• Estimate/model dam break, downstream flood simulation/
Choose appropriate level of flooding simulation mapping (depth, velocity, and duration), and downstream
and consequence assessment considering impact/consequence assessment.
potential risks.

Risk index schemes Risk index method can be applied to portfolio of It should be noted that risk indexing is a basic tool for risk
existing dams for screening and ranking of riskier screening across a portfolio of existing dams. It may need to
dams and approximate indication of project be supplemented with more advanced methods depending on
interventions comparing the risk index before the risk of the dams. Because risk indexing approaches largely
and after (see TN for Portfolio Risk Assessment rely on visual inspection of the condition of dams, some critical
Using Risk Index). Good examples are the dams failure modes could be missed or underestimated, and the TN
classification and risk categorization by Quebec provides a method for developing the risk index considering
Province, Canada, and Brazil. potential failure modes.

table continues on the next page

1. The required mitigation measures will be provided for the ESRS at appraisal stage. Preliminary risk classification is also be provided as an
input for the ESRS at concept stage.

16 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

TABLE 7.1. continued

Risk assessment level/tools Guidance Remarks

Simplified PFMA See TN for Potential Failure Mode Analysis Individual dam: Failure modes are identified by an experienced
(PFMA) for general guidance and generic ToRs, professional in consultation with dam operators and designers.
whereby two applications are presented: for the The expert elaborates probabilities of failure, which are revised
individual dam and for a portfolio of dams. and agreed in a meeting with dam operators and designers.

Portfolio of dams: The assessment is carried out by a team of

experts, in consultation with dam operators and designers. The
process involves assigning scores for contributing factors to each
potential failure mode based on the dam site inspection and
evaluators’ judgment.

Third tier (high-risk dams involving complex works)

Detailed consequence assessment For high-consequence cases in the event of This kind of detailed simulation can be done by a dynamic
for elaborate emergency planning dam failure, consequence assessment and simulation model for the EPP. Further details are provided in
EPP preparation should be undertaken in an Chapter 8.
elaborate manner to assess the PLLd considering
the effectiveness of emergency warning and
evacuation.

PFMA Appropriate for high-hazard cases, with FERC: PFMAe reviews the chain of events leading to
reasonable level of information or as a follow-up unsatisfactory performance and failure of the dam (see TN for
to simplified PFMA for higher hazard cases. Potential Failure Mode Analysis [PFMA]). Other similar methods
could be used.f

Semi- and full quantitative Not expected to be needed in most World Bank PFMA can evolve quantitatively by adding probability
operations but could be used for high-hazard assessments.g Other quantitative risk assessment models using
dams, which would involve comprehensive dam event tree analysis are also available.h
safety assessment and complex remedial works.

Note: EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; FERC = U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; ICOLD = International Commission on Large Dams; PAR = population at risk;
PFMA = potential failure mode analysis; PLL = potential loss of life; TN = Technical Note; ToRs = terms of reference.
a. PAR refers to the number of people who would be directly exposed to flooding by dam break if they took no action to evacuate. The evaluation is usually based on the
results of a dam break study, which evaluates the flooded area and the number of houses, infrastructures, and other impacted facilities.
b. “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al. 2020) provides a
comprehensive review of dams classification system in Chapter 5.
c. ICOLD, “Selecting Seismic Parameters for Large Dams” (Bulletin 72, ICOLD, Paris, 1989).
d. PLL refers to the number of people who would lose their lives by dam break flooding even if they received warning and took action to evacuate. The evaluation is based
on the number of people at risk in flooded areas with consideration of the lead time and effectiveness of warnings and other parameters related to evacuation activities.
The evaluation typically depends on empirical approaches but could use more advanced dynamic simulation in case of extremely high consequence.
e. Source: FERC, “Chapter 14: Dam Safety Performance Monitoring Program” in Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects (FERC, Washington, DC,
2017), https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/chap14.pdf.
f. There are similar types of qualitative risk analysis techniques, such as failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) and failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA), which
could also be used for the same purpose. Risk Management for UK Reservoirs (London: Construction Industry Research and Information Association, 2000) provides detailed
information on the application of these techniques.
g. See note 1 of Chapter 5 for other methods.
h. Quantitative risk assessment intends to provide a complete description of all risks and uncertainties by estimating the probability of dam failure and the resulting failure
impacts. Both the probability of each failure scenario and the corresponding consequences need to be assessed. This kind of probabilistic evaluation of possible failure
scenarios would assist in the identification of main dam failure scenarios driving the total risk. It also aids in the detailed assessment and determination of the urgency of
required remedial works. It should be noted, however, that quantitative risk assessments tend to be complex, requiring detailed dam monitoring and surveillance data,
along with supporting analyses of various associated uncertainties with estimated probabilistic values. These exercises are time-consuming and require substantial financial
and human resources. Reliable statistical data or credible probabilistic models are often not available for assessing probability of some failure modes, such as piping and
other forms of internal erosion. Also, in many borrowing countries, there is limited hydrometeorological, geological, and seismic data available, and the reliability of the
data sets is often poor. In many cases, basic design reports and construction quality information, such as information about embankment materials and foundation
treatments, are missing. Even when such data and resources are available, there could still be significant variation in results because of challenges in estimating probabilities
for various possible events. With a lack of data, estimates of probability tend to be by collective expert judgment and, therefore, depend on the group involved. It is critical
to ensure that the risk estimation procedure is logical, based on accepted scientific knowledge, and transparent along with a peer review process.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 17

Risk Classification for New Dams
As the first step for a dam’s risk classification, the Task Team should review with the borrower the
national dams classification system under the laws, regulations, or guidelines relating to dam safety.
Many countries have developed such a system for proportioning dam safety mandates so that more
stringent regulatory requirements, such as design standards, inspection frequency, and so on, can be
applied to higher-hazard dams.

Countries have developed different classification systems depending on their economic, environ-
mental, and social conditions. The main criteria for dividing dams into classes are generally either
geometrical parameters (typically dam height and reservoir capacity, sometimes including dam
type), incremental consequences or hazard potential that would occur as a result of a dam failure,
or a combination of these.

In some cases, the national standard may be inadequate compared with international practice. The Task
Team should discuss with the DSS and, if applicable, the panel of experts (POE) the assessment of such
potential gaps and advise the borrower to apply suitable higher safety standards and supplementary
safety enhancement measures.

If there are no such dam classification systems, the Task Team should advise the borrower to consider
international examples along with international guidelines, such as those issued by the International
Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). ICOLD Bulletin 72 provides a simple concept of risk classification
using four parameters—that is, (a) dam height, (b) reservoir capacity, (c) number of people potentially
affected, and (d) other potential consequence (table 7.2). Although dam height and reservoir capacity
can be considered to represent the magnitude of flood wave’s energy (water depth, velocity, and so on)
and correlate with flooded area and duration in case of dam break, the number of people potentially

TABLE 7.2. ICOLD Dams Classification System

Dam’s dimensional Reservoir capacity <0.1 0.1–1 1–120 >120

features (million m3)

Points 0 2 4 6

Dam height (m) <15 15–30 30–45 >45

Points 0 2 4 6

Downstream consequence Evacuation requirements None 1–100 100–1,000 >1,000

in case of dam failure (number of people)

Points 0 4 8 12

Potential damage None Low Moderate High

downstream

Points 0 4 8 12

Total risk points (summation of the four factors’ points) <6 7–18 19–30 31–36

Class I (low) II (moderate) III (substantial) IV (high)

Note: ICOLD = International Commission on Large Dams. Source: Adapted from ICOLD (1979).

18 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

 affected and other potential consequences can be considered to represent downstream hazard or conse-
quence in case of dam failure.

It should be noted that the threshold values indicated by ICOLD should not be used as they are because
they need to be considered and contextualized within the economic, social, and geographical condi-
tions of the country. In particular, the downstream consequence should be put in the appropriate
country and/or regional context in coordination with the DSS and E&SS.2

Risk matrices can be derived from this data with four categories—that is, red (high), orange (substantial),
light green (moderate), and green (low), as in figure 7.1. These can conceptualize the risk classification
using two elements: (a) structural dimensions, such as the dam height and reservoir capacity, and
(b) downstream consequences (the number of people affected and other consequences) in case of dam
failure. In addition, unusually high loads and threats, such as intensive floods, high seismicity, and
structural vulnerabilities of dams as a result of a structure’s type (such as embankment dam in compar-
ison with concrete gravity dam), geological conditions, and so on should also be considered given their
potential uncertainties.

Furthermore, a dam’s risk classification table can be developed, which indicates the required dam safety
standards (such as hydrological and seismic safety levels or their return periods) and safety require-
ments (depth of dam safety review, inspection frequency, sophistication level of emergency prepared-
ness plan, and so on) as per dam class. Table 7.3 is an example showing the gradation of dam safety
standards and requirements in accordance with dam class and should be tailored to each country’s
context.

FIGURE 7.1. Typical Risk Classification Diagram of New Dams

Magnitude of downstream consequences

Potential hydraulic force of failure and vulnerability

Consequences
Low Moderate Substantial High
Dam's features and
potential vulnerability

High

Substantial
isk
ingr Dams with greatest risk:
r eas
Inc Higher dam safety
Moderate requirements

Low
Dams with lowest risk:
Lower dam safety
requirements

2. “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al.
2020) provides further details and examples of dams classification system.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 19

TABLE 7.3. Typical Risk Classification System for New Dams

Hydrological Seismic Safety Dam Safety Review Dam safety Compliance

Risk Safety Level Level Panel Plans Supervision Monitoring
Low 200 year 500 year National or regional Basic Basic Basic
experts

Moderate 200–1,000 year 500–1,000 year Regional or Full Regular Regular

international experts

Substantial 1,000–10,000 year 2,500 year Experienced Elaborate Intensive Intensive

international experts

High 10,000 year – PMF 10,000 year or MCE Highly experienced Highly Highly Highly
international experts Elaborate Intensive Intensive

Note: MCE = maximum credible earthquake; PMF = probably maximum flood; POE = panel of experts. The required safety standards are
indicative only and should be consulted with Dam Safety Specialists and a POE. The scope of seismic hazard assessment, geotechnical
investigation, POE, and so on should also be proportionate to potential risks.

Risk Classification for Existing Dams

As defined in Chapter 4, at least in the context of dam safety, risk is considered to be the combination of
probability of occurrence of an event (for example, uncontrolled release of water from the spillway) and
the associated consequences (for example, loss of life, economic losses as a result of flooding, and so on).
Average risk is estimated by the mathematical expectation of the consequences of an adverse event
occurring—that is, the product of the probability of occurrence and the consequences combined over all
mutually exclusive scenarios. It should be noted that existing dams are not inherently less risky and
may, in some cases, be riskier than new dams.

The required dam safety measures should be defined with due consideration to the dam safety risk—
that is, product of likelihood of dam failure and potential hazard or consequence of dam failure. In
­figure 7.2, risk is classified into four categories—that is, red (high), orange (substantial), light green
­(moderate), and green (low). The level of likelihood of dam failure can be indicated based on the
­assessment of potential failure modes.

The required dam safety requirements can be indicated depending on risk classification (table 7.4). In
particular, it is essential to prioritize high-risk dams and remedial measures in terms of risk or urgency
for dam rehabilitation and safety operations. This should be done as early as possible during identifica-
tion and preparation. It should be noted that the table should be tailored to the specific country and
project contexts in consultation with the DSS and client-appointed POE, if applicable.

When the World Bank finances large-scale national or regional projects for the rehabilitation and safety
improvement of existing dams, the Task Team needs to discuss and agree with the borrower on the
required safety review and quality assurance mechanism. In particular, during preparation toward
appraisal, the team should guide the borrower to undertake and share the results of a preliminary
screening or portfolio risk assessment of an initial set of dams that would be rehabilitated during the
first two to three years of project implementation and agree on the quality control mechanism corre-
sponding to risk classification, including the terms of reference for detailed design and construction

20 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

 FIGURE 7.2. Typical Risk Classification Diagram of Existing Dams

Magnitude of downstream consequences

Consequences
Low Moderate Substantial High
Likelihood of failure

High
Likelihood of Dam failure

Substantial
risk
sing Dams with greatest risk:
rea
Inc Higher priority for
Moderate remedies

Low
Dams with lowest risk:
Lower priority for
remedies

TABLE 7.4. Typical Risk Classification System for Existing Dams

Dam Safety Measures Dam Safety Review Dam Safety Compliance

Risk SafetyAssessment & Remedies Panel Plans Supervision monitoring
Low Basic Regular O&M Not necessary Basic Basic Basic

Moderate Detailed Enhanced One expert on specific Full Regular Regular

monitoring technical issues

Substantial Qualitative/Semi- Urgent remedial More than one expert Elaborate Intensive Intensive
Quantnative works depending on specific
technical issues

High Advanced/Full Immediate Full-fledged panel Elaborate Intensive Intensive

Quantitative remedial works required

Note: O&M = operation and maintenance; POE = panel of experts. The dam safety requirements corresponding to risk classification are
indicative only and should be consulted with dam safety experts and POE if established.

supervisory consultancies and POE. The risk analyses matrix should be finalized for assessing the risk of
each existing dam before and after project interventions. Further detailed risk analyses including addi-
tional site investigations and detailed design works can be undertaken during the early phase of project
implementation. The remainder of existing dams that would be picked up by the project for subsequent
years can also be investigated and designed under the agreed prioritization and quality control frame-
work including detailed risk analyses and assessment. Technical Notes (TNs) for Potential Failure Mode
Analysis (PFMA) and Portfolio Assessment Using Risk Index (World Bank 2020k, 2020l) provide relevant
information for these types of framework projects. It is, however, recommended that a preliminary risk
screening of all dams should be undertaken to have an overall estimate of the required scope and budget
for remedial and safety improvement works.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 21

Potential Failure Modes and Consequence Assessment
As risk is defined as a measure of both failure likelihood and consequence, it is important to undertake
preliminary assessments in both aspects in a phased manner as detailed in the section on General
Guidance and Essential Tools and with due consideration to the quality of information and capacity, as
shown in Chapter 6.

Potential Failure Modes Assessment

As it is not a simple matter to estimate the likelihood or probability of dam failure without semiqualita-
tive or quantitative risk assessment, it is recommended that the borrower undertake its preliminary
assessment with reference to: (a) the national dams classification system or adapted one from ICOLD for
new dams and (b) the preliminary dam safety inspection and assessment reports for existing dams, as
shown in table 7.1. The former does not indicate failure likelihood but can provide proxies for estimating
potential magnitude of dam failure and impacts.

Although PFMA is recommended from the second-tier assessment, the consideration of credible failure
modes is quite useful in reviewing the design of a new dam or assessing the condition of an existing dam
and required remedial and safety enhancement measures. Typical failure modes are described for
embankment and concreted dams based on historical records in the following paragraphs.3 The TN for
Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) (World Bank 2020k) provides more details on failure modes for
various types of dams. TNs on Hydrological Risk and Geotechnical Risk (World Bank 2020g, 2020h) also
provide detailed guidance on required assessment on detailed elements, such as climate change, glacial,
and geological risks, including the dam site and surrounding areas.

For an embankment dam made of earthfill, clay core/rockfill, and so on, the common failure modes are:
(a) overtopping of dam crest eroding slope of dam (as a result of insufficient spillway capacity); (b) inter-
nal erosion or foundation piping; (c) slope instability or cracking of the dam face; (d) operational issues
that can lead to failure (for example, poor maintenance or low capability of dam operators); and
(e) geological hazards (earthquake shaking and landslide instability).

For a concrete dam, the common failure modes are: (a) flood overtopping eroding toe of dam; (b) sliding
on a plane of weakness in the foundation or at the dam/foundation interface; (c) structural failure of the
dam body; (d) operational issues that can lead to failure (for example, poor maintenance or low capabil-
ity of dam operators); and (e) geological hazards (abutment slope failure, earthquake shaking, and land-
slide instability).

Differentiation should be made between embankment and concrete dams, mainly because of the higher
vulnerability of the former to overtopping. In each project, dam type is selected according to the site
characteristics and to the available construction materials; therefore, several other types of dams exist.
Teams should direct attention and resources to investigating and assessing failure modes for high- and
substantial-risk dams in coordination with the DSS in a given context.

3. ICOLD 2019.

22 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Consequence Assessment
An assessment of dam failure consequences should estimate the number of population at risk (PAR) and
other social, environmental, and economic impacts. This should be used for the overall risk assessment/
classification and evacuation planning in case of a dam failure. The physical parameters that are required
for flooding simulation are speed and depth of the flooding. These depend on the extent of the dam
breach and the speed at which water is released from the reservoir. Determining these parameters
requires a dam breach model. It is often necessary and generally recommended to start the assessment
with simplified criteria for a preliminary estimate of PAR.

A conservative assumption is to assume instantaneous failure of full dam height. Two main approaches
apply for estimating the potential inundation area: (a) using existing inundation maps (as available) and
(b) undertaking a visual inspection and applying simple rules and technical judgment.

The minimum level of assessment for all dam projects (tier one) can assume an initial (dam break) water
depth at the dam of half the dam height and follow the map contours and valley slope to identify the
potential inundation area. Technical judgment is needed to determine how far the volume of water
released from the reservoir might spread. To estimate a distance downstream, consider how the stored
volume of water might disperse by looking at the downstream valley width and, say, a 0.5-meter depth
of standing water (after the flood wave passes). A length may then be estimated that broadly matches
the released volume (that is, volume = length × valley width × 0.5 meters depth). Limits can also be esti-
mated by looking for locations downstream where the river course enters in a much larger river valley,
and hence the flood volume would rapidly disperse. For medium- and high-hazard dams (tier two)
assessments, more detailed analysis is required. Simplified dam breach analysis and routing of the dam
breach flood wave down a valley can be carried out using one of the following two methods:

•• Simplified methodology (such as by Environment Agency, UK, 2013)4

•• Two-dimensional computational hydraulic model (such as with Hydrologic Engineering Center’s

River Analysis System [HEC-RAS] 5.0)

Topographic mapping should cover the entire downstream areas affected by dam failure, including a
more detailed survey of any singularity or major infrastructure reducing the hydraulic capacity of the
river, such as bridges, river crossing, and so on. Table 7.5 provides general guidance from ANCOLD
(2012)5 on the recommended flood routing distance corresponding to the storage capacity of the reser-
voir, which should be considered as a minimum. The land use of flooding areas, including location of
residential and commercial properties, critical infrastructure, agricultural land, and designated envi-

4. Guide to Risk Assessment for Reservoir Safety Management: Volumes 1 and 2 (Bristol, U.K.: Environment Agency, 2013). The simplified meth-
odology involves: (a) defining the downstream valley into a number of zones on 1:10,000 or 1:25,000 scale topographic maps; (b) defining
a typical trapezoidal cross-section shape, bed slope, and Manning’s n value to each zone; (c) applying a simplified relationship to attenuate
the dam breach flood wave through each zone; and (d) estimating an approximate flood depth and flood width for each zone and using this
information to develop a simplified flooding map. This method should be considered only as a first approximation to indicate flood depth,
width, and discharges as the flood wave attenuates down the valley.
5. ANCOLD 2012.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 23

TABLE 7.5. Total Distance to Route Dam Break Flood Flow

Reservoir storage Total distance downstream to route dam break flood

>2 million m3 60 km or greater

0.2–2 million m3 20 km or greater

<0.2 million m3 5 km or greater

ronmental/cultural heritage sites, should also be checked to assess the PAR and potential loss of life
(PLL); damages to property; and infrastructure, agricultural, and environmental, cultural, and social
damages. Further details are provided in the second and third paragraphs from the section on the
Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) in Chapter 8.

If there are multiple flow paths by breaches at different sections of the dam, which would result in sig-
nificantly different flooding areas, such as breach of saddle dams, failure of each section of the dam
should be analyzed separately. If there are multiple dams in cascade along a river, it is necessary to con-
sider cascade failure of downstream dams triggered by the failure of the upstream subject dam.6

In case of small dams located in the upstream of World Bank-funded projects, Annex C provides useful
and practical information to conduct preliminary assessment of their potential impacts.7

For high-risk dams involving complex works (tier three) and very high consequences, more detailed
consequence assessment should be undertaken, preferably using dynamic simulation model for esti-
mating PLL with advanced simulation models, such as LIFESim by Utah University, Hydrological
Engineering Center’s Flood Impact Analysis (HEC-FIA) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
and Life Safety Model (LSM) by BC Hydro8 in connection with the preparation of the EPP (see Chapter 8).

The assessment should also consider the social aspects, such as poverty and vulnerability, of those peo-
ple who might be affected by dam break floods. Poor and marginalized people are more severely affected
by natural hazards and climate extremes for several reasons. First, they often face greater exposure to

6. IFC (International Finance Corporation), Good Practice Handbook – Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Guidance for the
Private Sector in Emerging Markets (Washington, DC, IFC, 2013). This Good Practice Handbook provides useful information on the cumula-
tive impact assessment of hydropower projects under ESS1.
7. In some borrowers’ countries, it can be challenging to collect sufficient information on the number of dams, size, location, and so on.
Developing an inventory is an important step to assess the potential cumulative impacts of those small dams. Satellite imagery could be a
powerful tool to facilitate the process of collecting this information to establish inventories (see Annex 5 of Technical Note on Small Dam
Safety [World Bank 2020j]).
8. Two advanced models are available. First, the LIFESim model has been developed by Utah State University with support from the USBR,
USACE, and Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) (Aboelata and Bowles 2005) and is a spatially distributed, dynamic
simulation model for estimating PLL and economic damage by simulating a set of event-exposure scenarios, including various dam failure
modes, flood severities and timing (day or night, weekend or weekday), and so on. USACE has also been using HEC-FIA, which contains a
simplified version of the LIFESim model. Second, the LSM has been developed by BC Hydro (Lumbroso et al. 2011) with HR Wallingford
(U.K.) and is a physics-based, dynamic numerical model to simulate a set of probable scenarios, including variables such as the effective-
ness of warning, road capacity, and time-varying population density. The model uses results of flood water depth and velocity from 2-D
hydraulic models over the course of event. The model is particularly useful in assessing dam failure and evacuation scenarios in densely
populated urbanized areas. The model can be used to simulate evacuation patterns and traffic congestion, simulating the movement of
flood water and its interaction with people who may be located within structures, in motor vehicles or on foot. Fatalities are estimated
based on criteria including flood depths, velocity, and exposure periods. USBR has also started using the LSM on a limited basis.

24 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

hazards by living in marginal or unsafe areas (for example, on floodplains and along riverbanks). Their
vulnerability is greater as they are more likely to live in substandard housing and possess uncertain
landownership rights that provide no incentives for investments in risk reduction. Second, poor and
marginalized households are less able to absorb and recover from the impact of destructive events when
they hit. With little savings and limited or no access to credit, the poor rely on a range of suboptimal
coping mechanisms following a disaster. Finally, after being hit with a disaster, poor and marginalized
communities can suffer the consequences of uneven relief and recovery efforts. The poor also face
obstacles to accessing entitlements, such as government relief or recovery assistance. Special efforts are
needed to ensure that the EPP is developed within the context of the downstream communities.

In addition to the effects on human and economic assets, environmental consequences should also be
assessed as part of risk assessment and classification.9 Such consequences are typically measured based
on the potential environmental damages on the ecosystem, such as the loss of fish, wildlife, and their
habitat, as well as the possibility to regenerate these ecosystem and habitats. In case of tailing facilities,
potential contamination- and pollution-caused hazardous waste discharge can also be a critical issue.
Moreover, the potential loss of cultural and historical heritage sites may also be relevant for a particular
location.10

Assessing the Capacity of the Borrower

In addition to the structural dimension, failure likelihood, and potential consequence, the assessment
should also consider the borrower’s capacity to manage dam safety, including specifying the risk class
and required safety standards and requirements. The following guidance descriptions are offered to
assess borrower’s capacity (table 7.6).

The Task Team is expected to provide additional support and mitigation measures (more than those
required by risk designation alone) in coordination with the DSS when the borrower’s capacity is lim-
ited. Such measures may include an enhanced scope of works or budget (including on-the-job training)
for owner’s engineer consultancy, periodic dam safety inspection, and more intensive World Bank
supervision, compliance monitoring, and so on. The client’s capacity is included in the ESF dashboard
(see Chapter 8) and should be treated as one of the important indicators for assessing required measures
for both borrower and the World Bank.

Risk Control and Resilience Enhancement Options

This section provides an overview of risk control and resilience enhancement options for dam safety.
Although the former is to implement and enforce actions to control risk and to periodically reevaluate
the effectiveness of these actions, the latter is to absorb, accommodate, and adapt to hazards and threats

9. Quite a number of countries, such as Canada and Australia, have included the environmental consequences for dams classification system
(Wishart et al. 2020).
10. Specific requirements on cultural heritage are found in ESS8.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 25

TABLE 7.6. Borrower’s Capacity Level

Risk level Description

Low Borrower has a positive track record with implementation and management of dams more challenging than or
similar to the project under preparation.

A regulatory framework for dam safety is in place, or there is strong commitment to enhance or develop one.

Moderate Borrower has a reasonable track record with implementation and management of dams similar to the project
under preparation.

Basic dam safety practice (surveillance, monitoring, inspection, record keeping, independent reviews) is
satisfactory, or capacity-building programs are welcome.

Borrower is committed to develop and/or enhance a framework for dam safety.

Substantial Borrower has shown mixed performance in implementation and management of dams or limited experience only
in much smaller dams than the project under preparation.

Inadequate regulatory framework for dam safety in the country.

Borrower intends to improve management framework/capacity.

High Borrower has poor track record in implementation and management of dams or no experience of similar type/
size of the project under preparation.

No regulatory framework for dam safety in the country.

Borrower has limited capacity to manage dam safety throughout the project cycle.

beyond the design criteria, thus preserving the critical core systems for maintaining the overall struc-
tural safety of the dam and its water storage and control functions.

Risk Control Options

The most effective risk control measure is proper design and construction—that is, risk prevention and
reduction measures. These measures are related to dam siting (dam location, footprint, height, reservoir
capacity, and so on) and design criteria (hydrological, geotechnical, seismic, environmental, social, and
so on). It is by the optimized combination of such parameters that a good and safe dam project should
be prepared and executed.

The upstream engagement of the World Bank for the borrower’s project preparation and design could
help compare properties of various potential sites and sizes of dams, discuss favorable and unfavorable
factors in various aspects, and guide how to arrive at an optimized combination of location and design
through a multivariant analysis.

In addition to such risk prevention, minimization, and reduction measures in the upstream of project
preparation, there is a range of risk control options (table 7.7).11 Each of these has its own institutional
perspective of the developer or owner, either public or private, who needs to make the choice of options,
and the options should not be considered mutually exclusive or appropriate in all circumstances.

These risk reduction and mitigation measures should be adequately covered by the required dam safety
plans explained in Chapter 8.

11. Adapted from ICOLD 2005.

26 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

TABLE 7.7. Risk Control Options

Risk control option Institutional perspective

Reduce likelihood of failure mode progression leading to dam Design requirements, quality control, and dam safety
failures or uncontrolled release of water: typically, through operation and maintenance procedures. Adequate project
structural measures in the design, quality control, and/or dam implementation period, including initial operational periods.
safety management activities, such as monitoring, surveillance, Water infrastructure rehabilitation and modernization, including
and periodic inspections. capacity-building programs.

Reduce/mitigate consequences: nonstructural measures, early Dam safety operations, possibly in combination with broader
warning systems, emergency preparedness plans, emergency natural hazard management projects.
response capacity building.

Retain/tolerate/accept residual risk: after implementation of Following comprehensive risk assessment, suitable mitigation
adequate risk mitigation measures.a and resilience measures are incorporated in the project/
business plan to manage residual risks.

Transfer the risk: by contractual arrangements with other Parallel financing, with another partner financing the dam
entities for dam construction, operational responsibility, component. This still requires the World Bank to apply the ESF
ownership transfer, insurance, and so on. requirements and perform due diligence in terms of dam safety.

Avoid/eliminate: a choice that can be made before a dam is Drop the project or component. Entails forgoing expected
built, or through decommissioning of an existing dam. project’s development objectives and results.

Note: ESF = Environmental and Social Framework.

a. This note does not deal with risk tolerability and proportionality of mitigation and safety improvement measures given that it is not easy to
define them in borrowing countries’ contexts with due consideration to their economic, social, cultural, and other elements. Please refer to
Chapter 6 of “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities”
(Wishart et al. 2020) for a comprehensive review and examples of risk tolerability and proportionality.

Although table 7.7 is prepared for considering risk control options related to dam safety, the Task Team
should consider the overall project design and risk management approach with reference to a mitigation
hierarchy approach under the ESF/Environmental and Social Standard 1 (ESS1).

Resilience Enhancement Measures

There is a range of structural and nonstructural measures that should be considered for enhancing the
resilience of dam and associated facilities throughout the project cycle (table 7.8).

It is important to review these resilience enhancement options, including the structural and nonstruc-
tural measures in a comprehensive manner, and their effectiveness should be assessed case by case.
Although structural resilience enhancement measures may be required for some cases, nonstructural
measures may also be effective for others. Because some of the measures, including catchment/water-
shed conservation,12 typically involve other ministries and agencies, Task Teams are encouraged to
explore various options in coordination with other global practices beyond the particular World Bank-
funded projects involving dams.

12. Catchment/watershed conservation measures, such as slope correction using terraces, planting cover crops, revising grazing practices, and
so on, should be considered in steep and rugged terrains for preventing sudden increase of peak flood volume and geomorphological and
geological hazards, such as landslides and debris flows, as well as reducing soil erosion and sediment deposits for sustaining the life of dam
reservoirs. Effective tools and methodologies have been developed to help prioritize effective watershed management interventions. See,
for example, World Bank 2019.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 27

TABLE 7.8. Resilience Enhancement Measures

Project stage Structural measures

Planning Selection of dam types: easy to raise, resistant to overtopping

Emergency off-stream diversion or storage

Feeder canals from adjacent watersheds (water security)

Design Structural design to allow future dam raising, if and when necessary

Structural design to allow for easy and cost-effective addition of discharge capacity in the future, if and when
hydrological loads increase

Emergency spillway, including fuse plugs, fuse gates, and so on under extreme high floods

Multilevel intakes for selective withdrawals (water security)

Low-level outlets to permit in-stream releases during construction, reservoir filling, and operation of the
project (ecological flows)

Construction Build and maintain river diversion structures to allow future use in sediment flushing

Operation and Test gates’ operation regularly to ensure their reliability in emergency conditions
maintenance
Consider adding controllable gates to free spillways

Increase reservoir freeboard during flood seasons

Change number or type of turbines to increase installed capacity

Re-engineering Retrofit dams to provide more resistance to overtopping, in particular for small earthfill dams

Increase spillway capacity

Nonstructural measures
Planning Catchment/watershed conservation and management to prevent peak flood increase, landslides or debris
flow, and sediment yields (and maintain water discharge during dry season)

Sediment assessment and management plan using most suitable techniques (for sustainable storage
management)10

Enhanced hydromet monitoring/gauging involving communities, as appropriate

Price adjustment of water and energy for water saving and optimal water allocation

Initiate and maintain risk register, covering all technical and nontechnical risks throughout all phases of a
dam’s life cycle

Design Risk analysis and assessment, including PFMA to assess potential risks, mitigation measures, and design
adaption for all phases of dam life cycle

Construction Quality control, EPP, and first reservoir filling plan, including warning procedures

Operation and Hydromet monitoring of rainfall, snow pack, temperature, river flow, and so on11
maintenance
Update reservoir operation rules

Emergency preparedness—identification, classification, notification/warning, and response

Training dam operators and downstream communities for EPP

Enhanced reservoir operation and decision support system linked with flood forecasting system

Re-engineering Establishment of adaptation fund—annual replenishment and periodic reevaluation

Note: EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; PFMA = potential failure mode analysis.
a. Useful references, including G. W. Annandale, G. L. Morris, and P. Karki, Extending the Life of Reservoirs Sustainable Sediment Management
for Dams and Run-of-River Hydropower (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2016).
b. Technical Note on Hydrological Risk (World Bank 2020g) provided more details on hydromet monitoring and assessment, including the
glacial lake outburst flood.

28 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

 Chapter 8
Procedural Aspects: Stages, Plans, and Technical
Support in Project Preparation and Implementation

The following section describes stages, plans, technical support, and some other important aspects
of project preparation and implementation when dam safety is involved (figure 8.1). It also addresses
two critical areas of dam safety risk management (under recurrent consideration): prequalification of
­bidders and independent review.

FIGURE 8.1. Decision Tree for Determining the Relevant Dam Safety Requirements under the ESF/ESS4

Independent panel
of experts required
as well as CSQAP, IP
O&MP, EPP,
prequalification and
periodic inspections
Yes after completion

“Large” Yes
New dams
dam1?
Dam safety
No
“Small” dam No measures designed
with potential safety
by qualified
risks2?
engineers

Dam safety measures

Projects for
designed by qualified
which ESS4
engineers
Annex 1 applies
as well as CSQAP, IP
O&MP, EPP

Project finances Dam safety No

rehabilitation or assessment and Independent
upgrading of rehabilitation/ High-hazard Yes Panel of Experts
existing dams upgrading designs cases with complex required
Existing dams remedia work? as well as CSQAP,
and dams under Yes IP O&MP, EPP
construction3
Project relies Evaluation by Additional Client submits
safe operaion of one or more safety measures or findings and
an associated or independent remedial work appropriate
upstream dam dam specialists4 needed? No plans to Bank

Note: CSQAP = Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan; EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; ESF = Environmental and Social Framework; ESS4 =
Environmental and Social Standard 4; IP = Instrumentation Plan; O&MP = Operation and Maintenance Plan.
a. Large dams are defined in Chapter 3.
b. Small dams with potential safety risks or that are expected to become large dams as defined in Chapter 3.
c. Includes dams for which rehabilitation works are being directly financed through World Bank projects, as well as dams for which their safety and performance are critical
to World Bank-financed projects.
d. Previously prepared assessment or recommendations may be acceptable in some cases as laid out in ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 10.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 29

Key Steps by World Bank Staff in Project Preparation and Implementation
Table 8.1 describes the key steps and actions by World Bank staff, pertaining to dam safety, throughout
the project life cycle.

TABLE 8.1. Key Steps and Essential Elements

World Bank-financed projects involving dams World Bank-financed projects relying on dams
Essential elements for dam safety assurance of existing
Essential elements for new dams, DUC, or rehabilitation of existing dams or DUC on which World Bank-financed projects
Step dams under World Bank-financed projects rely or may rely
By PCN review • Reviews key features of the dams funded under World Bank- • Confirms that the borrower has identified the relevant
meeting financed projects, potential risks, and borrower’s dam safety existing dams or DUC whose safe and reliable
management system and capacity performance could affect World Bank-funded projects

• Guides borrower on the dam safety requirements that apply to the downstream, and assess borrower’s system and capacity

proposed project for safety management

• Reviews reports on the new dam’s design and/or safety assessment • Agrees with borrower on the dam safety requirements

reports of existing dams (prepared by the borrower or its designer) that apply to the proposed project

and required additional studies or measures, if any, including their • Reviews the existing dams’ safety inspection and
TORs assessment reports (prepared by the owner or

• Reviews the ToRs and proposed experts’ qualification for the independent experts); if such reports are not available,

independent POE for dam safety review (see Appendix 5 for agrees with borrower on the required safety assessment

sample TORs) of those existing dams, including the TORs (see

Appendix 6 for sample TORs)
• Provides dam safety-related technical inputs for risk classification
and necessary due diligence details to be reflected in the ESRS • Provides dam safety-related technical inputs for risk
classification and required actions for the ESRS

By QER • As necessary, agrees on a strategy or program to enhance borrower’s • Reviews any additional or newly prepared safety
capacity on risk-informed dam safety management assessment reports of the existing dams by the

• Reviews the borrower’s progress in complying with the requirements borrower and agrees on required safety assurance

and agreed actions, including upgrading of design study, POE measures and reflection in the ESCP, if needed

establishment, and dam safety plans preparation, along with their

reflection in the ESCP

By decision meeting • Reviews required documents submitted by borrower (additional • Reviews any additionally submitted documents by the
(authorization investigation, upgraded dam design or safety assessment reports, borrower related to existing dams’ safety
to appraise) and and so on)a • Reviews borrower-submitted dam safety plans, if
appraisal • Ensures that POE has visited the dam site and reviewed the dam applicable, and agrees on the preparation schedule of
design report and that the borrower has agreed on and incorporated full-fledged ones
required measures and steps • Provides dam safety-related technical inputs for risk
• Reviews borrower’s dam safety plans, which are due at appraisal, classification and agreed actions in the ESRS and ESCP
and agrees on the preparation schedule of full-fledged ones:

–– CSQAP including TORs, RFP, and budget estimate for construction

supervisory consultancy

–– Preliminary O&MP

–– Broad framework of the EPP with an estimate of the funds for

preparing the full-fledged plan

• Provides dam safety-related technical inputs for risk classification

and due diligence to be included in the ESRS and material measures
and actions to be included in the ESCP

table continues on the next page

30 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

TABLE 8.1. continued

World Bank-financed projects involving dams World Bank-financed projects relying on dams
Essential elements for dam safety assurance of existing
Essential elements for new dams, DUC, or rehabilitation of existing dams or DUC on which World Bank-financed projects
Step dams under World Bank-financed projects rely or may rely

Implementation • Reviews borrower’s bidding packages to confirm that the packages • Monitors borrower’s implementation of the agreed-
include key technical elements of design and procurement process, upon safety assurance measures of existing dams,
including prequalification and initial selectionb including the preparation of dam safety plans, if any

• Confirms that the borrower has selected a construction supervisory

consulting firm and contractors for performing adequate quality
control

• Confirms that POE has visited project site and reviewed construction
progress and quality, as per agreed-upon schedule and dam safety
plans as required

• Review and confirm if borrower has duly reflected POE

recommendations in the construction design and procedures in
coordination with the contractors and construction supervisor

• Monitors borrower’s implementation of any capacity-development

program for dam safety enhancement as agreed with the World
Bank

• Reviews borrower’s dam safety plans:

–– O&MP not less than six months before starting the first reservoir
filling or agreed-upon schedule for existing dams

–– EPP, along with dam break analysis and flooding maps, and the
first reservoir filling plan not less than one year before starting
the reservoir filling or agreed-upon schedule for existing dams

Operation • Confirms the POE has reviewed dam’s behavior and performance • Provides implementation support to the borrower in
during the first filling and provided advice on the revision of O&MP implementing the existing dam’s O&MP and EPP
and EPP, if needed, as well as recommendations on the level of
independent review appropriate for the dam

• Monitors whether the borrower has carried out periodic safety

inspections of the dam after completion and implementation of
required dam safety measures in line with O&MP and EPP

• Monitors whether the borrower has maintained adequate dam

safety management capacity and resources as per the agreed-upon
program and as specified in the ESCP

Note: CSQAP = Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan; DUC = dam under construction; EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; ESCP = Environmental and Social
Commitment Plan; ESRS = Environmental and Social Review Summary; O&M = operation and maintenance; O&MP = Operation and Maintenance Plan; PCN = Project Concept
Note; POE = panel of experts; PPSD = Project Procurement Strategy for Development; QER = Quality Enhancement Review; RFP = Request for Proposal; TORs = terms of
reference.
a. Also reviews the borrower’s procurement strategy (as part of the PPSD) and procurement plan.
b. Monitor to ensure that the borrower or construction supervisory consulting firm manages performance of the contracts closely including against a contract management plan.

For a framework-type project in which all subprojects and investment schemes are not identified by
appraisal, the dam safety requirements, procedures, and estimated budget and timeline should be dis-
cussed and agreed upon with borrowers during project preparation. These requirements and proce-
dures should be reflected in the Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS) and Environmental
and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) by appraisal in coordination with the Environmental and Social

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 31

Specialist (E&SS) and Dam Safety Specialist (DSS). The environmental and social management frame-
work (ESMF) should also cover such elements in connection with Environmental and Social Standard 1
(ESS1).

The climate and disaster risk screening is one of the corporate requirements in project preparation to
ensure climate change and disaster risks are addressed upfront. This GPN and the TN on Hydrological
Risk (World Bank 2020g) provide detailed technical guidance on sourcing, assessing, and using the data
on climate change, climate risks, and other disaster risks and on their management throughout the proj-
ect life cycle. The World Bank Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Tools toolbox (available at https://
climatescreeningtools.worldbank.org/) provides detailed information for the screening at an early stage
of planning processes or project design.1

E&SS in the Task Team should coordinate with and seek advice from the DSS for reviewing risk and
required remedial and safety improvement measures, as well as other dam safety-related matters, as per
the Environmental and Social Standard 4 (ESS4) Annex 1. The DSS will coordinate with the World Bank’s
Lead Dam Specialist for ensuring consistent interpretation and application of the dam safety require-
ments under the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)/ESS4 when providing advice to Task
Teams. External dam safety expert consultants may be appointed in coordination with the DSS and Lead
Dam Specialist. In this case, the Task Team should consult the DSS to ensure the requirement of ESS4 on
dam safety is properly addressed. The Lead Dam Specialist will coordinate with Operations Policy and
Country Services (OPCS)—in particular, with the Chief Environmental and Social Standards Officer—and
ESF Implementation Support Unit.

Dam Safety Provisions under the Environmental and Social Review Summary and the
Environmental and Social Commitment Plan
The ESRS requires the ESS, in coordination with the DSS, to indicate whether dam safety measures are
relevant under the ESF/ESS4 and the designated risk classification.

The ESCP sets out material measures and actions, along with any specific documents or plans that are
required over a specified time frame. It is important to ensure the dam safety requirements, such as the
establishment of an independent panel of experts (POE) and the preparation of dam safety plans, along
with any other requirements, are stipulated in the ESCP.

The World Bank’s database of dam-related projects has been developed as one of the measures for sup-
porting implementation of the ESF. This facilitates the introduction of a risk-informed management
system for Investment Project Financing (IPF), including dams, and provides a strong basis for the real-
ization of a comprehensive contingency management system (see more details in Annexes F and H).

1. The purpose of the Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Tools is described as follows: “Climate and Disaster Risk Screening represents a
proactive approach to considering short- and long-term climate and disaster risks in project and national or sector planning processes.
Screening is an initial, but essential, step to ensure these risks are assessed and managed to support mainstreaming of climate and disaster
resilience into key development policies, programs, and projects.” Source: World Bank Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Tools, World
Bank, Washington, DC (2017) https://climatescreeningtools.worldbank.org/.

32 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

For projects involving the safety of dams, the dashboard derived from this database provides a list of
safety-related elements and indicates the required level of dam safety measures commensurate to risks.
In other words, the dashboard will provide a risk management tool to improve portfolio monitoring of
investment projects during project preparation and implementation, allowing the user to focus on high-
risk projects involving dams and adequate resource allocation. This tool will be upgraded to incorporate
the full range of World Bank-supported activities relating to the safety of dams.

Dam Safety Plans

World Bank-financed projects involving the construction of new dams, dams under construction (DUC),
or existing dams require the preparation and implementation of the four dam safety plans as described
in ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 14:

•• Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan (CSQAP)

•• Instrumentation Plan (IP)

•• Operation and Maintenance Plan (O&MP)

•• Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP)

Each of these plans is required to be submitted by the borrower at different times throughout the project
life cycle (table 8.2). This timing corresponds to the various steps in the transition—from design to con-
struction and operation of the dam—and is aimed at ensuring the necessary provisions, resources, and
capacity are in place to achieve safe, sustainable outcomes in line with the development objectives.

TABLE 8.2. Submission Timing of Dam Safety Plans

Dam safety plan Timing: New dams or DUC Timing: Existing dams Review
CSQAP Due at appraisal a
Due at appraisal if substantial The World Bank TT/DSS, POE in high-
remedial works are requiredb hazard cases involving significant and
complex remedial works

IP Before bid tendering Before remedial works tendering The World Bank TT/DSS and POE
if substantial remedial works are (if applicable)
required

O&MP Outline at appraisal; final plan Updated or new plan developed The World Bank TT/DSS and POE
not less than six months before during project implementation; (if applicable)
starting reservoir filling PAD specifies timing

EPPc Framework EPP at appraisal; final Updated or new plan developed The World Bank TT/DSS and POE
EPP not less than one year before during project implementation; (if applicable)
starting reservoir filling PAD specifies timing

Note: CSQAP = Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan; DSS = Dam Safety Specialist; DUC = dam under construction;
EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; ESF = Environmental and Social Framework; ESS4 = Environmental and Social Standard 4;
IP = Instrumentation Plan; O&MP = Operation and Maintenance Plan; PAD = project appraisal document; POE=Panel of Experts, TT = Task Team.
a. In case of a framework-type project in which subprojects and investment schemes have not been identified by appraisal, the terms of reference
for CSQAP are required at appraisal.
b. When the design of remedial works need further detailed assessment or investigation during project implementation, the terms of reference for
CSQAP are required at appraisal.
c. In addition, the borrower is required to prepare an emergency response plan mainly for the environmental and social risks of a dam’s construction
works as per ESF/ESS4, paragraphs 20–21.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 33

The Task Teams should ensure that the timing of these instruments is reflected in the legal agreements
and ESCP, stipulating the measures and actions to be taken by the borrower. It is good practice to include
these requirements as conditions or dated covenants. Although it is often difficult for Task Teams to
translate these into specific dates, an initial estimate should be made at the time of negotiations and the
implementation of the design and construction should continue to be monitored so that the milestones
can be amended in consultation with the country lawyer. The required level of detail, scope, and depth
for the four dam safety plans should reflect the risk classification of particular dams under or associated
with the World Bank-financed project.

Construction Supervision and Quality Assurance Plan

The objective of the CSQAP is to set out details of the organization, staffing levels, procedures, equip-
ment, and qualifications for supervision of the construction of a new dam or of remedial work on an
existing dam.

The first step is to develop terms of reference (ToRs) during project preparation for the entity that will
supervise construction activities. That entity can be a consulting firm acting as supervision engineer,
owner’s engineer, or employer’s representative (depending on construction contract type). In special
cases when experienced and competent in-house engineers are available, it could be the owner itself
through one of its specialized departments. The CSQAP should be adapted to the dam’s type, size, con-
struction site condition, and so on. A sample framework is provided in Appendix 1 (World Bank 2020a).

The scope of work, along with the qualification of the key experts and the level of construction supervi-
sion, will vary depending on the complexity of the project. In the case of minor repairs of existing small
dams, the required scope and level of construction supervision could be minimal and included with a
broader scope of work for supervising associated downstream works, such as irrigation, water supply
works, and so on.

The Request for Proposal (RFP), including the TORs, key staff qualifications, required staff time, and so
on, should be reviewed and cleared by the Task Team and DSS before appraisal. Procurement for the
selection of a suitably qualified consulting firm is usually through quality cost-based selection (QCBS) or
quality-based selection (QBS). In the case of new dam construction, although the weight of technical
and financial aspects for bid evaluation depends on the complexity of the project, the technical weight,
when applying QCBS, is generally recommended as 90 percent versus the financial weight of 10 per-
cent.2 Consistent with the Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) or its subsequent
updates, QBS may also be applied to ensure total focus on technical (quality) features and avoid that cost
aspects might negatively affect safety aspects. In such cases, it is essential to ensure that all required
expertise and level of effort (for example, staff time) are sufficiently stated in the RFP.

The CSQAP and ToRs for the owner’s engineer or construction supervisor and the technical specification
of the main bidding document for the civil works related to dams should be reviewed by the Task Team,

2. World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (2018), Annex X, paragraph 40 and table 5.1. See also Annex G for IPF procurement
involving dam safety.

34 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

DSS, and client-appointed POE for dam safety, if applicable. In particular, the contractor’s quality assur-
ance, including the scope and frequency of various in situ and laboratory tests, should be reviewed in
connection with the construction supervisor’s quality assurance.

During the construction period, the quality assurance program and its effectiveness should be reviewed
by the POE at least twice per year, and any issues and recommended measures should be reviewed,
discussed, and agreed between the borrower and Task Team, including the DSS, during supervision
missions.

Instrumentation Plan
The objective of the IP is to provide a detailed description of the instruments to monitor and record
the behavior and performance of the dam and associated structures, as well as to evaluate the safe
performance during the construction and first reservoir filling and throughout the operation period of
the dam.

The plan will typically be prepared by the design engineer and included as part of the technical specifi-
cations in the tender documents.3 The requirements of the IP should be reflected in dedicated items of
the bill of quantities for the tenderer. The plan is reviewed by the Task Team and DSS and, if applicable,
by the client-appointed POE. A sample framework is provided in Appendix 2 (World Bank 2020b).

The scope and detail of the plan should be commensurate with the dam’s type, size, potential risk, and
so on. The plan should cover a list of monitoring equipment, including their number, type, location,
technical specification, and so on. The plan should also consider data acquisition, analysis, reporting,
and storage systems, covering the required data transmission, storage equipment, and software. The
procedure and responsibility for equipment installation, calibration, and testing should be carefully
reviewed. The plan should also specify the procedure and frequency of monitoring data collection, pro-
cessing, analysis, reporting, and maintenance works, which can also be referred to or complemented by
the O&MP.

Toward the end of the construction and first reservoir filling, it is important to ensure that a set of mon-
itoring instruments are properly installed, calibrated, and functioning for monitoring the dam’s condi-
tion and performance during the first filling. The Task Team, including the DSS, should discuss and
agree with the borrower on any areas for remedies or improvement. For existing dams, in particular, the
dam owner and/or operator’s instrumentation monitoring procedure, practice, status of monitoring
equipment, staff capacity, and training needs should be considered for preparing the upgraded IP. The
plan should also consider the results of dam safety assessment so that the new and/or upgraded instru-
ments in the early stages can monitor potentially weak spots and detect any anomalies. In this regard,
conducting workshops about potential failure mode analysis is very useful. To the extent possible, the
plan should indicate critical thresholds, above which appropriate cautions and internal warnings would
be triggered.

3. Depending on the types of contracts, less details are specified in tender documents, specifications, or employer’s requirements.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 35

Operation and Maintenance Plan
The objective of the O&MP is to set out details of the organizational structure, staffing, technical exper-
tise, and training required; equipment and facilities needed to operate and maintain the dam; operation
and maintenance (O&M) procedures; and estimated budget/arrangements for funding O&M, including
long-term maintenance and safety inspections. A sample framework is provided in Appendix 3
(World Bank 2020c).4

A preliminary O&MP for new dams is required at appraisal, and the final plan is required not less than
six months before starting the initial reservoir filling. In the case of existing dams, a preliminary plan
should be submitted at appraisal, and the final plan should be prepared during the early stage of project
implementation as the project implementation schedule allows. The plan is reviewed by the Task Team
and DSS, and, if applicable, by the client-appointed POE for dam safety-related aspects.

The scope and detail of the plan varies depending on the dam’s risk classification, but the plan is
typically composed of: (a) the O&M structure, including staffing, required expertise and qualifica-
tions, and training needs; (b) the O&M procedure and manual for various electrical-mechanical facil-
ities and equipment; (c) the surveillance, instrumentation monitoring, and reporting procedure and
periodic inspection and dam safety review; (d) reservoir operation procedure during normal, flood,
and dry seasons, including rapid drawdown for peaking power, structural dam safety assurance, and
so on, as well as downstream notification and warning procedure; and (e) the O&M budget, sources,
and long-term maintenance program. The plan should give careful consideration to management of
potential risks related to structural and operational aspects of hydromechanical equipment in addi-
tion to civil works.

The dam safety assessment undertaken during project preparation should cover the dam owner’s and/
or operator’s O&M practice and capacity in addition to the review of the condition status of various facil-
ities and equipment. The required budget and staffing for O&M should be carefully assessed and agreed
with the borrower. Depending on the capacity of owner and/or operator of the dam, the staff training
program should be discussed and agreed upon. In addition, external technical assistance may be needed
for establishing and maintaining a proper O&M procedure.

For high- or substantial-risk dams, it is important for the owner to establish a dedicated dam safety team
or retain an external professional service to ensure a dam safety assurance function independent from
the business or operational line being cognizant that the dam safety function is typically commingled
with the general O&M function for hydropower or other utility dams.5

4. World Bank, O&M Strategies for Hydropower – Handbook for Practitioners and Decision Makers (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2020),
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33313. This report also provides relevant information on O&MP, in particular for
hydropower dams.
5. World Bank, O&M Strategies for Hydropower – Handbook for Practitioners and Decision Makers (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2020),
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33313. This report also provides relevant information on O&MP, in particular for
hydropower dams.

36 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

As a standard industry practice, the first reservoir filling or impoundment plan should also be prepared
by the borrower in coordination with the contractor and construction supervisory consultant. The plan
should define the reservoir filling schedule, including some holding points or elevations, surveillance
and monitoring procedures, frequency of instrumentation readings, thresholds for triggering alarms,
notification and warning procedures, and so on. The plan should be closely linked with the IP, O&MP,
and EPP—not necessarily duplicated but cross-referenced. The plan can be incorporated into the O&MP
or EPP but preferably is a separate document. The plan should be reviewed by the POE and Task Team,
including the DSS.

Emergency Preparedness Plan

The objective of the EPP6 is to specify the roles of responsible parties when emergency situations are
evident. Emergencies include flow release that can threaten downstream life, property, or economic
activities that depend on river flow levels, intentional or accidental water release, or, in the worst case,
dam failure. The EPP includes emergency communications, specifying the mechanisms through which
at-risk downstream communities will be informed in the event of an emergency.

An effective EPP should provide clear and concise guidance on emergency actions: (a) how to identify
an emergency as early as possible, (b) how to classify the emergency, and (c) how to respond to the
emergency. Further details are provided in a sample framework EPP (see Appendix 4 [World Bank
2020d]), including the emergency response level matrix.

It is important that the EPP be coordinated with other key entities, such as the national and regional
emergency or disaster management agencies and downstream districts and communities. Although
dam owners and/or operators are responsible for assessing dam safety conditions and notifying relevant
entities of potential risks, the emergency management authorities7 are responsible for evacuation plan-
ning and execution. Warning the population immediately downstream in the case of imminent danger
remains the responsibility of a dam’s operators, according to an established protocol, and Appendix 4
(World Bank 2020d) provides further detailed descriptions using the sample EPP.

For that purpose, the EPP should include a protocol for communicating the changing situations of an
emergency to the entities in charge of responses in the field. Response management should be based
on maps, outlining inundation levels for emergency conditions; flood warning system characteristics;
and procedures for evacuating people in threatened areas and mobilizing emergency forces and
equipment.

A framework EPP is required at appraisal, and it should contain an estimate of funds needed to prepare
and implement the plan in detail. The final EPP is required not less than one year before commencement
of the initial filling of the reservoir.

6. In addition, borrower is required to prepare an emergency response plan, mainly for the environmental and social risks of dam’s construc-
tion works as per ESF/ESS4, paragraphs 20–21.
7. The specific institutional arrangements for emergency preparedness and management should be checked for a specific country and region
in which the project is located.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 37

Should river diversion entail significant storage,8 the framework EPP should include provision for that
phase, requiring the contractor to complete the framework with a method statement for river diversion
covering suitable measures, such as enhanced resilience of the cofferdams, adequate monitoring and
water system, and so on.

In the case of existing dams, a framework plan should be submitted by appraisal, and a final plan is to be
submitted during the early implementation stage as the project implementation schedule permits. The
timing should be specified in the ESCP or legal agreement. The plan is reviewed by the Task Team, DSS,
and, if applicable, client-appointed POE.

A sample framework EPP provided in Appendix 4 (World Bank 2020d) should be tailored to the
actual circumstances of the project, including the dam type, size, downstream consequence in case
of dam failure, and so on. The framework EPP is intended to provide general guidance for preparing
the final EPP based on topographic survey, dam break analysis, and downstream flooding simula-
tion/mapping.

The level of details of the final EPP should be commensurate with the downstream hazard or potential
consequence in case of dam failure. Again, the preliminary consequence assessment and dam risk clas-
sification should indicate the required scope and detail of the EPP.

The required level of topographic survey (topographic maps, digital elevation model [DEM],9 or light
detection and ranging [LiDAR] to delineate flooding area); dam break analysis (breaching models and
parameters, dam breach outflow hydrograph, and so on); flooding simulation (simplified routing
method, 1-D or 2-D hydraulic model, and so on); and flood mapping (arrival time, flood depth, velocity,
and so on) should be specified in the framework plan, considering the potential risk or consequence of
dam failure in each case. Detailed flooding maps indicating the water depth and velocity that is deter-
mined by topography are critical for undertaking a detailed consequence assessment, including poten-
tial loss of life (PLL), affected houses, commercial buildings, and main infrastructure and indicating the
required emergency measures in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

The dam break analysis should include various potential failure modes and simulation scenarios,
including large floods and “sunny day” events. It is important to note that downstream emergencies
could be caused by a sudden uncontrolled release of water or controlled but rapid increase of water
discharge, such as peaking power discharge through hydropower turbines. The downstream area could
suffer major impacts, even by 50- to 100-year return period floods. Even during normal operation peri-
ods, an intentional or accidental release of water could cause incidents and human casualties, including

8. The significance of the diversion-stage storage should be assessed based on consequence levels downstream, considering the expected
duration of the diversion phase, before reservoir filling, and the type of cofferdam.
9. Some global DEMs are available for free. ASTER Global DEM released in 2009 has a 30-meter resolution created by stereoscopy
(http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gdem.asp). The latest ASTER data (version 3) was released recently with the same resolution but an improved
vertical and horizontal accuracy (https://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gdem.asp). Another example is SRTM, originally at 90-meter resolution but
now available globally at 30 meters (data available for download at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros). Some additional references are
provided in Annex A.

38 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

recreational users.10 It is important to establish a proper downstream flood or discharge warning system
and procedure, along with suitable hydromet monitoring and a flood forecasting system. This may be
covered in the O&MP.

It is important for dam owners, operators, and other relevant agencies to undertake drills, testing, and
training to ensure smooth coordination in case of emergencies. Periodic review and upgrading of the
EPP is also important to reflect changes in staffing of dam owner and relevant agencies and downstream
conditions. Adequate stakeholder analysis and engagement, including disadvantaged or vulnerable
groups, should also be undertaken to tailor the means of communication, such as posters, brochures,
social media, outreach to local associations, and others, as well as to engage the local communities so
that they would be part and informed of the emergency action plan.

Prequalification or Initial Selection of Bidders

Prequalification or initial selection is aimed at ensuring that only entities with proven experience in dam
engineering and associated works are invited to bid. The World Bank should verify that the submitted
bids include adequate dam safety provisions. Those may include bidder-proposed technical specifica-
tions, or reservations thereof, including Geotechnical Baseline Reports11 and other contract manage-
ment elements that have significant relevance to dam safety. Gaps in these areas should be appropriately
addressed before award of contract in accordance with the bidding documents.

Prequalification or initial selection of bidders is a compliance requirement in the case of large dams.12 At
the same time, proportionality requires examination of how to apply the provision to various types of
World Bank operations, including dam safety aspects. Table 8.3 lists typical situations and provides
related guidance. For nontypical situations, the Task Team should seek guidance from the DSS.

The World Bank has introduced a new procurement framework, in which all IPF with Project Concept
Note (PCN) approval after July 1, 2016, is subject to the Procurement Regulations, which have a signifi-
cantly modernized procurement process.13 The borrower is required to stipulate project-funded pro-
curement activities and selection methods in the PPDS, ensuring that procurement processes are fit for
purpose; allow choice; and are appropriate to the size, value, and risk of the project. The new procure-
ment framework also stresses the concept of value for money with a shift in focus to the best overall

10. More information on public safety of dams is provided by “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the
Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al. 2020), including some useful references, such as Guidelines for Public Safety
Around Dams (CDA 2011) and TVA downstream warning and communication systems (https://www.tva.com/Environment/Lake-Levels​
/Hazardous-Waters).
11. A Geotechnical Baseline Report is a document describing the contractual understanding of the site conditions, referred to as the geotech-
nical or geological baseline: (a) contractor bears risk at or below baseline and employer accepts risk above baseline; and (b) baseline setting
determines risk allocation and has a great influence on risk acceptance, bid prices, quantity of change orders, and the final cost of the
project. A recommended reference is ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), Geotechnical Baseline Report for Construction – Suggested
Guidelines (Reston, Virginia: ASCE, 2007).
12. This will be revised and defined as part of the borrower’s Project Procurement Strategy for Development and Procurement Plan.
13. Sources: World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 31, 2018), Procurement Guidance – Standard Procurement
Documents – An Overview of Practitioners (November 2016), and Procurement Guidance – A Beginner’s Guide for Borrowers – Procurement
under World Bank IPF (April 2018).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 39

TABLE 8.3. Typical Prequalification-Related Situations and Recommendations

Situation Rationale Recommended course of action

Repairs and/or In line with the provisions of ESS4, Task Team should assess capacity of the entities
rehabilitation works at prequalification of bidders is not required. who will be invited to tender and that of the
small dams designer or supervisor of rehabilitation works.
Assess whether the latter entity may require
technical support by other national institutions.
Community involvement in basic surveillance
during operation of the dams should be
considered.

Rehabilitation works In several cases, rehabilitation measures Prequalification of bidders should be limited to
involving mainly involve mainly upgrading of the monitoring and suppliers of specialized equipment. For consulting
nonstructural measures instrumentation system, updating dam safety firms, QBS or QCBSa-procurement should be
plans, adding flood warning systems, training, adopted with clear terms of reference.
and so on. Structural measures are of very
limited extent in such cases.

Site investigations and The World Bank often includes preparation of Site investigation companies should have proven
testing for feasibility a new dam/hydro as a project component, with technical capacity. For consulting firms, QBS or
studies of new dams no commitment to finance that infrastructure. QCBS25 procurement should be adopted with clear
Major site investigation activities (access terms of reference.
tracks, trench and pit excavation, boreholes,
exploratory adits, and so on) may be involved to
inform feasibility study.

Note: ESS4 = Environmental and Social Standard 4; QBS = quality-based selection; QCBS = quality cost-based selection.
a. See section on Dam Safety Provisions under the ESRS and the ESCP and Annex G for procurement aspects related to dam safety.

value for money, taking into account quality, cost, and other factors as needed and introducing some
new procurement methods and features. Although new RFP documents for procuring goods, works,
and nonconsulting services beyond consulting services include initial selection, updated requests
for bids include prequalification with some new features. Annex G provides relevant information for
­projects involving dam safety.

The Task Team and DSS should discuss suitable selection methods of contractors and consulting firms
for ensuring the quality and safety of dam design and construction in coordination with procurement
specialists, who should be able to provide a complete set of procurement-related documents, informa-
tion, and guidance.

Independent Review
Independent review of dam safety is required for new dam construction, existing dam rehabilitation,
and safety improvements, along with dam safety assessments of associated dams. The objective of the
independent review is to examine the safety and quality of a dam’s design and safety plans in an objec-
tive manner and detect potential safety issues that might have been overlooked by the client and
designer who have been involved in project development. Independent review of new dams and DUC
involves the client appointing a POE. The Guidance Note for Borrowers ESS4: Community Health and

40 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Safety provides guidance on the independent POE for dam safety in Guidance Note Annex (GNA) 1.6.1,
1.6.2, and 1.7.1.

The level of independent review required varies in form and degree, depending on potential risk.
Appendixes 5 and 6 (World Bank 2020e, 2020f) provide sample TORs, respectively, for POE for safety
review of new dams and safety assessment of existing dams on which World Bank-funded project relies
or may rely. The latter is typically carried out by an individual DSS or expert. The appropriate level of
review should be tailored to the specific technical issues, potential risk involved, country context, and
so on.

The Task Team should seek guidance for required independent dam safety review from the DSS in coor-
dination with the E&SS. The DSS can also assist in recommending suitable experts if requested by cli-
ents. Although construction of new dams with potential high- or substantial-risk classification may
require internationally reputable experts in their respective fields, safety review of moderate- or-low
risk classification of existing dams may be sufficiently covered by regional or national experts. Task
Teams should seek no objection from the DSS regarding the TORs for safety review and recommended
experts.

The POE should be established by the client as early as possible during project preparation and main-
tained at least until the completion of the first reservoir filling and initial commissioning period.14 The
POE’s overall confirmation of the adequacy of the dam design and other safety-related aspects should
be obtained in advance of appraisal. To fulfill its quality assurance and due diligence function, the World
Bank may hire external expert consultants for safety review in consultation with the DSS.

As aforementioned, Appendix 5 (World Bank 2020e) provides a sample TOR for POE for new dams and
DUC. This applies to such dams irrespective of funding sources, whether government funds or other
international and bilateral agencies. The arrangements may need to be carefully discussed and adjusted
depending on the potential risk involved and country or client contexts.

The most effective POEs are small (three to four members), and members are carefully selected to cover
the major disciplines involved in the project. POE members are free to review any aspect that they deem
relevant to safety and sustainable operation of the dam. In some cases, feasibility study and detailed
design have already been subject to independent review before the POE’s involvement. In those cases,
the borrower may limit the POE’s review to some specific points that are relevant to the project’s safe
and efficient implementation. In other cases, the Task Team may find that the quality of documents,
such as RFPs, TORs, technical specification of bidding documents, and so on is insufficient. In such
cases, considering the borrower’s capacity, the team may request the borrower use the POE to enhance
the quality of those documents.

POE members should have an established technical record with wide practical experience. An effective
POE is made up of individuals who are not afraid to state their opinions yet are able to work collectively

14. The actual timing of the POE release may be reviewed depending on duration of the first reservoir filling completion.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 41

in a group setting. In forming the POE, the borrower should ask each potential member not only whether
they would be willing to serve on the project POE but also whether they would be willing to serve
together with other potential members.

It is generally not advisable for the client to hire a consulting firm to undertake the independent review
but rather to base selection on the individual’s record and expertise, unlinked to commercial interests,
such as major consulting, contracting, or equipment companies. Any individual selected for the POE
should document any conflicts of interest and acknowledge that any organization for which he or she
works will be excluded from any major decision-making role in the project.

It is desirable that the POE includes a combination of national and international experts of proven and
practical experience. At least one or more international experts are generally required to introduce rele-
vant good international practices and ensure the full independence of the POE.

Proportionate to risk, for the safety review of existing dams associated with World Bank projects featur-
ing less demanding technical aspects, one single expert may be adequate. However, rehabilitation of
high-risk dams involving significant and complex remedial works may require a POE composed of inter-
nationally recognized experts in relevant fields that cover the key issues identified.

The borrower’s liaison with the members of the POE should prepare a project status report ahead of each
POE visit, including subjects on which the borrower seeks advice and other subjects that the POE deems
necessary to review. Such reports should be shared with the World Bank and the Task Team should be
invited to participate in the visit of the POE, as appropriate.

The World Bank has been increasing lending projects for the rehabilitation of existing dams and safety
improvement involving hundreds of dams on a national or regional basis. In such cases, the Task Team
needs to discuss with and obtain from the borrower the required safety review and quality assurance
mechanism, including POE and other entities, such as design and construction supervision firms and
so on. The Task Team should discuss and agree with the borrower on the scope and size of POE based
on the preliminary portfolio risk assessment of those dams, seeking advice from the DSS during project
preparation before appraisal (see section on Risk Classification for Existing Dams in Chapter 7 and TN
for Portfolio Risk Assessment Using Risk Index [World Bank 2020l]). Based on the risk profile of the
portfolio of dams, the POE’s work/site visit programs should be developed to optimize efficiency and
use of time.

The World Bank is increasingly involved in supporting, in one form or another, projects in which the
main developer is a private entity or a public-private partnership. In those cases, the World Bank often
enters the operation when project preparation is fairly advanced yet has to conduct appropriate due
diligence. That type of operation often involves IFC and/or Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA) for provision of guarantees to safeguard the developer’s investment.

In such cases, OP4.03 – Performance Standards for Private Sector Activities and IFC (World Bank Group)
Performance Standard 4 (PS4) – Community Health, Safety, and Security (2012) applies, and paragraph 6

42 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

of PS4 on Infrastructure and Equipment Design and Safety noted that “when structural elements or
components, such as dams, tailing dams, or ash ponds are situated in high-risk locations, and their fail-
ure or malfunction may threaten the safety of communities, the client will engage one or more external
experts with relevant and recognized experience in similar projects, separate from those responsible for
the design and construction, to conduct a review as early as possible in project development and
throughout the stages of project design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.”

Although PS4 does not specifically use the term POE, it requires independent review of dam safety
aspects. Depending on the extent of the World Bank’s involvement in each case, it would be advisable to
secure independent review of dam safety aspects by individual experts in coordination with IFC and/or
MIGA.15 Because it is usual to find that such projects have been satisfactorily prepared by the developer
team, in most cases, independent review may effectively be provided by one senior expert.

Technical Assistance Related to Dam Safety

In addressing the environmental and social risks and impacts related to dam safety associated with
recipient-executed technical assistance (TA) that is supported through IPF16 in accordance with the ESF,
Operations Environmental and Social Review Committee (OESRC) Advisory Note: “Technical Assistance
and the Environmental and Social Framework” (2019) should be referred to.17

Out of four types of TA activities, dam safety may be relevant in type 1: “Preparing future investments
in infrastructure or other sectors, including the preparation of feasibility studies, detailed technical
designs, safeguard instruments, bid documents,” type 2: “Drafting of policies, programs, plans, strate-
gies, laws and/or regulations,” and type 3: “Capacity building activities.”

The IPF-financed TA activities subject to the ESF need to be assessed, for risk classification purposes, in
accordance with the ESF and the Bank Directive – Environmental and Social Directive for Investment
Financing (2018). The note states, “Task teams and E&S specialists need to bear in mind that the rele-
vant risk that need to be assessed are not simply the impacts resulting from the TA activities themselves
but also the potential downstream environmental and social implications that may arise when and if the
TA leads to future investments. … If the future construction of a dam in a sensitive ecological setting is
considered high risk, the TA supporting its design should also be considered high risk.”

The note also states: “The Bank’s responsibility will usually not extend to ensuring that other activities
of the Borrower – whether subsequent or parallel to the provision of the TA – are consistent with the ESF.
For example, a TA recipient later may decide to obtain financing from sources other than the Bank, and

15. IFC and MIGA have had practices of hiring a firm as lender’s engineer for large projects involving dams for reviewing project-related tech-
nical aspects, including dam safety and facilitation of technical discussions between financiers, client, developer, and so on. This is not
necessarily considered an independent review as per IFC “(determined on a case by case basis, depending, inter alia, on the TORs of the
Lenders’ Engineer).”
16. The principles and concepts described here may be of use to a team designing and implementing TA with instruments such as Reimbursable
Advisory Services and Bank-Executed Trust Fund or in the form of Advisory Services and Analytics in a proportionate manner to potential
risks as described in this GPN, in line with the OESRC Advisory Note (May 21, 2019).
17. For the TA under IPF operations subject to safeguard policies, refer to the World Bank “Interim Guidelines on the Application of Safeguard
Policies to TA Activities in Bank-Financed Projects and Trust Funds Administered by the Bank” (OPCS/LEGEN, Washington, DC, 2014).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 43

to apply national standards and/or other donors’ policies to the projects that were prepared under the
Bank-financed TA or that arise from the program/plan prepared under the TA. In such cases, the activi-
ties in question will not be subject to the ESF…. Hence, it is extremely important that project documen-
tation define precisely and as narrowly as possible what the project is financing.”

Table 8.4 provides an indicative risk classification for TA involving dam safety, but each case should be
discussed with the E&SS, DSS, and Regional Environmental and Social Standards Adviser (RSA). For
preparing the TORs for design studies, programs, and capacity building under all three types, the DSS
should be consulted to provide a review and technical advice. For preparing the feasibility studies and
detailed designs of substantial- and high-risk dams (according to the aforementioned new dams and
existing dams rehabilitation and upgrading), an independent review by a POE or individual expert is
recommended, and in each case, the DSS should be consulted.

Furthermore, in coordination with legal counsel, the E&SS, and the DSS, the Task Team may also want
to include the following standard language used in some TA studies: “Although the studies that resulted
in the present reports were funded and reviewed by the World Bank, the World Bank does not take
responsibility for the use made of them. At present, the Bank has not determined or considered a future
engagement with respect to the Project.”

For analytical work, the Task Team may want to include the following caveats as part of the acknowl-
edgments or executive summary: “This assessment is not intended to represent nor replace appraisal of
the project, and the presentation of the findings, their interpretations, and the conclusions expressed
herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, the
­governments they represent, or any other organization or individual acknowledged here. It is one of a
number of supporting activities intended to complement preparations being carried out by the [client]
for the [project].”

At the closure of World Bank-financed projects, the World Bank may not be satisfied with the quality of
the feasibility studies or other project preparatory documents produced under a TA with inadequate

TABLE 8.4. Risk Classification for TA Involving Dam Safety

Indicative risk
TA types classification Remarks
Type 1: Preparing feasibility studies, detailed Substantial to high Classification depends on the risk profile of the future
designs, or other activities directly in support of project, and risk-informed dam safety should be
the preparation of a future investment project applied. The POE’s review is recommended for high-risk
(whether or not funded by the World Bank). projects. The World Bank’s future financing possibility
of the studied dams should also be considered.

Type 2: Assisting in formulation of policies, Low to moderate TA should not include structural works, such as access
programs, plans, strategies, laws, or regulations, roads, site investigations, and so on. In the case of
and so on monitoring equipment provision for particular dams,
overall dam safety condition should be assessed with
Type 3: Strengthening client capacity Low to moderate
required safety measures.

Note: POE = panel of experts; TA = technical assistance.

44 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

reflection of previous comments by the World Bank and/or independent reviewers or dam safety panel
and provide its final comments to the client, expecting them to be addressed at the next stage of project
preparation.  It should be clearly agreed with the client with documentation that whichever project
entity picks up the project preparation at the next stage, they should have access to and reflect the com-
ments from the World Bank, independent reviewers, or POE.

Institutional, Legislative, and Regulatory Framework for Dam Safety18

ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 13 indicates, “Where appropriate, the Borrower may discuss with the Bank any
measures necessary to strengthen the institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks for dam
safety programs in the country.” Furthermore, Guidance Note for Borrowers ESS4: Community Health
and Safety indicates in GNA 1.13 notes: “With respect to certification and approval of structural ele-
ments of the project, where governmental ‘approving authority’ capacity is limited or inadequate, the
roles and responsibilities of alternative approving authorities, such as third-party professionals, should
be agreed to and formulated before project implementation.”

The team is encouraged to refer to “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks
for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al. 2020) including the decision sup-
port tool detailed in its Appendix E to facilitate the assessment of the country’s dam safety framework
and a gap analysis of capacity among regulators and owners. The Task Team is expected to seek advice
from the DSS on any required technical support and capacity enhancement measures related to projects
during project preparation.

Requirements under Other Parts of the ESF and Legal Operational Policies
This chapter provides the relations of this Good Practice Note to other parts of the ESF and legal opera-
tional policies.

ESS1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
In accordance with ESS1, the Environmental and Social Assessment will include an environmental and
social impact assessment (ESIA), an environmental and social management plan (ESMP), and other
instruments in ESS1 Annex 1 as necessary, including a cumulative impact assessment considering all
relevant environmental and social risks and impacts of the project. In case of a framework-type project
in which all subprojects and investment schemes are not identified by appraisal, an ESMF may also be
prepared. For co-financed projects, use of a common approach may also be discussed. While the ESIA/
ESMP covers all risks and impacts including dam safety, dam safety-related documents, such as safety
assessment and inspection reports of existing dams, as well as design reports for new dams construction
and rehabilitation of existing dams, dam safety plans (see section on Dam Safety Plans in Chapter 8) and
so on will be required under ESS4 Annex 1. Dam safety experts will provide inputs for the environmental

18. As per FY17 large dams legislation of the U.S. government, one of the conditions for the U.S. executive director to support a project involv-
ing large dams is that the country has in place sound dam management practices or, where necessary, commit to appropriate and timely
capacity building. Outstanding operational problems with existing dams in the country in the same river basin are being addressed before
investments in new dams, among many.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 45

risk rating in the ESRS and for the ESRS and ESCP (see section on Dam Safety Provisions under the ESRS
and the ESCP in Chapter 8) from a dam safety perspective, in particular when dams are located in areas
where hydrological, seismic, geological, and other potential risks are substantial or high.

ESS10 – Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

ESS10 establishes a systematic, timely, and transparent engagement between the borrower and project
stakeholders disclosing information on potential impacts of World Bank-funded projects and mitigation
measures. Effective stakeholder engagement improves the environmental and social suitability of proj-
ects, enhances acceptance of the project, and makes a significant contribution to successful project
design and implementation. Following stakeholder identification and analysis, a stakeholder engage-
ment plan is prepared to ensure that the project will include appropriate mechanisms for taking stake-
holder views into account and that information disclosure and consultations are planned and managed
to ensure effective participation.

Although the World Bank has been following an international practice of classifying dam safety-related
documents as confidential because of their safety and security contents,19 it is important to ensure that
the borrower will prepare the EPP in consultation with relevant government offices and other stake-
holders and disseminate information and raise awareness on required emergency preparedness and
action for local communities, such as community-level warning systems and procedures, evacuation
procedures and routes, and so on. This information should be in appropriate formats that are tailored to
the diverse stakeholders within potential flooding areas (leaflets, brochures, signposts, radio, social
media, outreach to associations, and so on) in coordination with the national and local emergency man-
agement offices (see section on Emergency Preparedness Plan).

For small dams with low risks, the Task Team should consider the participation of local community
organizations or water user groups in dam safety assurance, such as basic surveillance, monitoring,
reporting, repairs, emergency preparedness, and so on. As appropriate, this participation should be in
coordination with the dam safety regulators and/or owners. Adequate technical support, training, and
periodic oversight should be provided. Further detailed guidance is provided under the TN on Small
Dam Safety (World Bank 2020j), and specific guidance from social development specialists and DSS
should be sought.

Legal Operational Policy – OP/BP 7.50 Projects on International Waterways

If dams involved in World Bank-funded projects or technical assistance are using or risk polluting water
from transboundary rivers, including their tributaries, the project will likely trigger the World Bank’s
Operational Policy (OP)/Bank Procedure (BP) 7.50 concerning Projects on International Waterways, and
the policy requirements according to OP/BP 7.50 need to be addressed. Depending on the nature and
scope of financed activities, notification to other riparian countries or approval of an exception to the
notification requirement may be required. Dam safety experts will provide technical inputs regarding
the design of dams, reservoir operational patterns and procedures, emergency preparedness, and so on.

19. See section on security in Chapter 7 of “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and
Downstream Communities” (Wishart et al. 2020).

46 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

In case of such projects triggering OP 7.50, the EPP should consider transboundary impacts and include
the coordination or communication mechanism with the affected neighboring countries. These projects
should be discussed on a case-by-case basis with LEGEN (Environment and International Law Unit,
Legal Vice-Presidency) the E&SS, and the DSS.

For the purposes of OP 7.50, it should be noted that the requirement for a borrower’s safety inspection
and evaluation of an existing dam or a DUC on which a World Bank-funded project relies or may rely on
is specified as dams in the borrower’s territory.20

Dam Safety Requirements in Fragility, Conflict, and Violence Situations

Where a borrower is deemed by the World Bank to (a) be in urgent need of assistance because of a natu-
ral or manmade disaster or conflict or (b) experience capacity constraints because of fragility or specific
vulnerabilities (including for small states), the applicable provisions of OP 10.00 will apply as per the
policy.21

Specific dam safety requirements and possible adjustments should be discussed on a case-by-case basis
with relevant staff, including OPCS and ESF Implementation Unit, ensuring that critical dam safety
requirements would be identified and covered in a commensurate manner to the potential risk of
the dams.

For data collection, monitoring, and evaluation for the project’s design and supervision in fragility, con-
flict, and violence (FCV) situations, many technologies are available, including satellite imagery, remote
sensing, mobile applications, and so on. The application of such technologies should be selected consid-
ering the local contexts.22

20. ESS4 Annex 1, paragraph 8.

21. World Bank Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing (2016), paragraph 14.
22. K. Garber and S. Carrette, “Using Technology in Fragile, Conflict, and Violence Situations: Five Key Questions to Be Answered” (FCV Health
Knowledge Note, World Bank, Washington, DC 2018).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 47

Annex A
Essential References: Risk Analysis in Dam Safety
Management

The following references are those directly used in the preparation this Good Practice Note. For a more
complete list of references on the subject, the reader should refer to Chapter 6 of “Laying the Foundations:
A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities”
(Wishart et al. 2020).

Aboelata, M. A., and D. S. Bowles. 2005. “LIFESim: A Model for Estimating Dam Failure Life Loss.”
Preliminary Draft Report to Institute for Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers and Australian
National committee on Large Dams by the Institute for Dam Safety Risk Management, Utah State
University, Logan, Utah.

ANCOLD (Australian National Committee on Large Dams). 2003a. Guidelines on Dam Safety Management.
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: ANCOLD. https://www.ancold.org.au/?page_id=334.

———. 2003b. Guidelines on Risk Assessment. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: ANCOLD. www.ancold.org.au/
publications.asp. https://www.ancold​.org.au/?product=guidelines-on-risk-assessment-2003.

———. 2012. Guidelines on the Consequence Categories for Dams. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: ANCOLD.

Bowles, D. S. 2001. “Advances in the Practice and Use of Portfolio Risk Assessment.” ANCOLD Bulletin
117:21-32, Australian National Committee on Large Dams.

———. 2006. “From Portfolio Risk Assessment to Portfolio Risk Management.” Proceedings of the
Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD): The Challenges of the 21st Century, Sydney,
Australia, November 19–22.

CDA (Canadian Dam Association). 2011. Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams. Toronto, Ontario:
CDA.

———. 2013. Dam Safety Guidelines. Toronto, Ontario: CDA.

———. 2019. “Technical Bulletin: Emergency Management for Dam Safety.” CDA, Toronto, Ontario.

Central Water Commission. 2019. Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Risks Associated with Dams.
New Delhi: Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.

DEFRA (Department for Environment, Flood, and Rural Affairs). 2013. Guide to Risk Assessment for
Reservoir Safety Management. 2 vols. Bristol, U.K.: UK Environment Agency.

———. 2014. “Small Reservoir Simplified Risk Assessment Methodology Guidance Note.” UK Environment
Agency, Bristol, U.K.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2012. Manual on Small Earth Dams: A Guide to Siting, Design
and Construction. Rome: FAO.

Hartford, D. N. D., and G. B. Baecher. 2004. Risk and Uncertainty in Dam Safety. London: Thomas Telford
Publishing.

Hartford, D. N. D., G. B. Baecher, P. A. Zielinski, R. C. Patev, R. Ascila, and K. Rytters. 2016. Operational
Safety of Dams and Reservoirs. London: ICE Publishing.

IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). 2005. Risk Informed Regulations of Nuclear Facilities:
Overview of the Current Status. Vienna, Austria: IAEA.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 49

ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). 1989. “Selecting Seismic Parameters for Large Dams.”
Bulletin 72, ICOLD, Paris. (www.icold-cigb.net/GB/publications/publications.asp).

———. 2005. “Risk Assessment in Dam Safety Management.” Bulletin 130, ICOLD, Paris.

———. 2016. “Small Dams: Design, Surveillance and Rehabilitation.” Bulletin 157, ICOLD, Paris.

———. 2017. “Dam Safety Management: Operational Phase of the Dam Life Cycle.” Bulletin 154, ICOLD,
Paris. http://www.icold-cigb.net/GB​/publications/bulletins.asp.

———. “Dam Safety Management: Pre-operational Phases of the Dam Life Cycle.” Preprint (2018), Bulletin
175.

———. “Statistical Analysis of Dam Failures.” Draft (2019), Bulletin 99 update.

IFC (International Finance Corporation). 2018. “Environmental, Health and Safety Approaches for
Hydropower Projects.” Good Practice Note, IFC, Washington, DC.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 31000. 2009. Risk Management – Principles and
Guidelines. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO. https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:31000:ed-1:v1:en.

Lumbroso, D. M., D. Sakamoto, W. M. Johnstone, A. F. Tagg, and B. J. Lence. 2011. “The Development of
a Life Safety Model to Estimate the Risk Posed to People by Dam Failures and Floods.” Dams and
Reservoirs 21 (1): 31–43. www.researchgate.net/publication/270429081.

New Zealand Society on Large Dams. 2015. New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines. Wellington: New Zealand
Society on Large Dams. https://nzsold.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nzsold_dam_safety_guide-
lines-may-2015-1.pdf.

USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineer). 2011. Safety of Dams: Policy and Procedures. Washington, DC:
USACE.

USBR (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation). 2015. Reclamation Consequence Estimation Methodology: Guidelines
for Estimating Life Loss for Dam Safety Risk (Interim). Denver, Colorado: USBR.

USBR-USACE. 2018. Best Practices in Dam and Levee Safety Risk Analysis. Denver, Colorado: USBR.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2015. Dams Sector Crisis Management Handbook – A Guide for
Owners and Operators. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2015. Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety Risk Management.
Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2017. Dam Safety Performance Monitoring Program.
Washington, DC: FERC. www.ferc.gov​/industries/hydropower/safety/guidelines/eng-guide/chap14.pdf.

Wishart, Marcus J., Satoru Ueda, John D. Pisaniello, Joanne L. Tingey-Holyoak, Kimberly N. Lyon, and
Esteban Boj Garcia. 2020. “Laying the Foundations: A Global Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for the
Safety of Dams and Downstream Communities.” Sustainable Infrastructure Series, World Bank,
Washington, DC. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1242-2.

World Bank. 2019. “Valuing Green Infrastructure: Case Study of Kali Gandaki Watershed, Nepal.” World
Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020a. “Appendix 1: Construction Supervision & Quality Assurance Plan (Sample Framework).”
World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020b. “Appendix 2: Instrumentation Plan (Sample Framework).” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020c. “Appendix 3: Operation & Maintenance Plan (Sample Framework).” World Bank, Washington,
DC.

50 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

———. 2020d. “Appendix 4: Emergency Preparedness Plan (Sample Framework).” World Bank, Washington,
DC.

———. 2020e. “Appendix 5: Sample Terms of Reference –  Panel of Experts (POE) for New Dam Safety
Review.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020f. “Appendix 6: Sample Terms of Reference – Independent Safety Assessment for Existing
Dams.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020g. “Technical Note on Hydrological Risk.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020h. “Technical Note on Geotechnical Risk.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020i. “Technical Note on Seismic Risk.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020j. “Technical Note on Small Dam Safety.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020k. “Technical Note for Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA).” World Bank, Washington, DC.

———. 2020l. “Technical Note for Portfolio Risk Assessment Using Risk Index.” World Bank, Washington,
DC.

———. 2020m. “Technical Note for Tailings Storage Facilities.” World Bank, Washington, DC.

Zielinski, P. A. 2009. “Risk-Informed Approach to Dam Safety Regulation.” Proceeding of XXIII Congress
of ICOLD, Brasilia, Brazil, May 25–29.

Useful References for Global Digital Elevation Model

Alexandre, R. 2018. “DEM Spatial Resolution – What Does This Mean for Flood Modellers?” JBA
Risk Management (blog). https://www.jbarisk.com/news-blogs/dem-spatial-resolution-what-does-this​
-mean-for-flood-modellers/.

García, L. E., D. J. Rodríguez, M. Wijnen, and I. Pakulski, eds. Earth Observation for Water Resource
Management: Current Use and Future Opportunities for the Water Sector. Washington, DC: World Bank.
https://elibrary.worldbank.org/doi/pdf/10.1596/978-1-4648-0475-5.

Hawker, L., P. Bates, J. Neal, and J. Rougier. 2018. “Perspectives on Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Simulation for Flood Modeling in the Absence of a High-Accuracy Open Access Global DEM.” Frontiers
in Earth Sciences, December 18. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389​/feart.2018.00233/full.

Horritt, M. S., and P. D. Bates. 2002. “Evaluation of 1D and 2D Numerical Models for Predicting River
Flood Inundation.” Journal of Hydrology 268 (1–4): 87–99.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 51

Annex B
Brief Summary of Most Relevant ICOLD Bulletins to
Risk-Informed Dam Safety Management

For the purposes of World Bank operations, a recommended reference that broadly covers all the con-
cepts, and provides pertinent examples, is ICOLD Bulletin 130 on “Risk Assessment in Dam Safety
Management” (2005). Several of the definitions used in the following come from there. Annex A con-
tains a list of references on the subject.

ICOLD Bulletin 154 on “Dam Safety Management: Operational Phase of the Dam Life Cycle” (2017)
­provides a broader and more comprehensive description of the risk-informed approach in making
­decisions about safety of existing dams and states:

In defining the decision-making model for the Dam Safety Management System (DSMS), all
insights from the safety analysis should be taken into account. The general integrated decision-­
making model is conceptually illustrated in Figure below. The approach presented on Figure
below combines the insights from deterministic and probabilistic safety analyzes with other
requirements (such as legal, regulatory, business). The degrees to which individual components
of the decision-making process are included may vary from organization to organization.
However, it is important that the DSMS clearly establish the structure and parameters of the
decision-making model.

Appendix B: Decision Making in Dam Safety of ICOLD Bulletin 154 (2017) also provides the guidance on
inclusion of explicit or implicit risk information in decision making in dam safety.

ICOLD Bulletin 175 on “Dam Safety Management: Preoperational Phases of the Dam Life Cycle” (­preprint)
points out that risks involved in planning, design, and construction present a different level of complex-
ity, which are caused by both technical and nontechnical factors, and “uncertainty accompanies the
whole development process from the preliminary studies to the construction phase. It concerns not
only the technical aspects, but also the economic and financial ones. … uncertainties in dam design
might lead to adopt too high safety levels (conservatism) and to increase costs unnecessarily. It is there-
fore of utmost interest for the Owner and the Designer to estimate the amount of uncertainty by apply-
ing reliability type of analyses to the design data and to try to obtain better or more consistent data by
increasing the amount of investigation.”

52 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

FIGURE B.1. Integrated (Risk-Informed) Decision Making

Regulations Safety margins

Safety culture Deterministic

safety analysis

Risk culture Risk analysis

External Risk insights

conditions

Performance Integrated decision Accidents and

monitoring making incidents data

Operational Resources
aspects

Action

Source: ICOLD 2017.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 53

Annex C
ICOLD Small Dams Hazard Classification

The reader may refer to ICOLD Bulletin 157 on “Small Dams Design, Surveillance and Rehabilitation”
(2016) to assess the potential safety risk of small dams as in table C.1 and figure C.1. The bulletin defines
small dams with the criteria of 2.5 meters < H < 15 meters and H2√V <200 (where H = dam height in
meters and V = storage volume in million cubic meters).1

TABLE C .1. Potential Hazard Classification of Small Dams

Potential Hazard Classification (PHC)

Component Low - (1) Medium - (II) High - (III)

H 2 ⋅ V parameter H 2 ⋅ V < 20 20 < H 2 ⋅ V < 200 H 2 ⋅ V ≥ 200

Life Safety Risk (number of lives) ~0 < 10 ≥ 10

Economic Risk low moderate high or extreme

Environment Risk low or moderate high extreme

Social Disruption low (rural area) regional national

FIGURE C .1. Relationship H2√V with the Indication of the PHC

20 50 100 200 500

25

Eloy chaves
Bospoort
La loma Crystal springs
20 Donkerpoort Jaguari
Gcuwa Americana
10 Boskop
Santana PHC III
Duiwelskloof
Smithfield
Montagu
15 Aguas de alcala
Dam height (m)

AR jaen norte
5 Baskloof
Jackson reservoir PHC II

10 Bruma lake
La redonda Jakkalsvlei
El puerto Westdene

Gavião peixoto
Chibarro Matalobos
Bethal
5 São Joaquim
Dourados
PHC I Pinhal

0
0.001 0.010 0.100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Reservoir storage volume (milloin m ) 2

Source: ICOLD 2016.

Note: PHC = potential hazard classification. Examples of small dams in Brazil, Spain, and South Africa shown.

1. The hazard class terms have different meanings, depending on which classification context is used. The low, medium, and high hazard
rating of ICOLD Bulletin 157 (2016) may be translated into moderate, substantial, and high risk under the Environmental and Social Review
Summary, which would require more specific review.

54 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

ICOLD Bulletin 157 (2016) also provides practical guidelines on dams less than 15 meters in height for
assessing the distance from the dam where the dam break flood level is lower than 0.5 meters.

Dam height (m) Distance from dam section (km)

5 4.7

10 7.0

15 7.0

Further detailed guidance on small dams compliance requirements is contained in the Technical Note
on Small Dam Safety (World Bank 2020j).

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 55

Annex D
U.S. Joint Federal Risk Categories

The joint federal risk categories can be a useful reference for risk classification of existing dams and
portfolio risk assessment and management as shown in table D.1. They are derived from the Federal
Guidelines for Dam Safety Risk Management (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency 2015) with
support from the U.S. Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (including Departments of Defense,
Interior, Agriculture, and Energy; U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and U.S. Federal
Emergency Management Agency).

TABLE D.1. U.S. Joint Federal Risk Categories

Urgency of action Characteristics and considerations Potential actions

1 – VERY HIGH URGENCY CRITICALLY NEAR FAILURE: • Take immediate action to avoid failure. Communicate findings to

There is direct evidence that failure is in progress, potentially affected parties.

and the dam is almost certain to fail during • Implement IRRMs.

normal operations if action is not taken quickly. • Ensure that the emergency action plan is current and functionally
OR tested.

EXTREMELY HIGH RISK: Combination of life or • Conduct heightened monitoring and evaluation. Expedite investigations
economic consequences and likelihood of failure and actions to support long-term risk reduction.
is very high with high confidence. • Initiate intensive management and situation reports.

II – HIGH URGENCY RISK IS HIGH WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE, OR • Implement IRRMs.

IT IS VERY HIGH WITH LOW TO MODERATE • Ensure that the emergency action plan is current and functionally
CONFIDENCE: The likelihood of failure from one tested.
of these occurrences, prior to taking some action,
• Give high priority to heightened monitoring and evaluation. Expedite
is too high to delay action.
investigations and actions to support long-term risk reduction.

• Expedite confirmation of classification.

III­– MODERATE URGENCY MODERATE TO HIGH RISK: Confidence in the risk • Implement IRRMs.
estimates is generally at least moderate, but can • Ensure that the emergency action plan is current and functionally
include facilities with low confidence if there is tested.
a reasonable chance that risk estimates will be
• Conduct heightened monitoring and evaluation. Prioritize
confirmed or | potentially increase with further
investigations and actions to support long-term risk reduction.
study.
• Prioritize confirmation of classification as appropriate.

IV – LOW TO MODERATE LOW TO MODERATE RISK: The risks are low to • Ensure that routine risk management measures are in place.
URGENCY moderate with at least moderate confidence, or • Determine whether action can wait until after the next periodic review.
the risks are low with low confidence, and there
• Before the next periodic review, take appropriate interim measures and
is a potential for the risks to increase with further
schedule other actions as appropriate.
study.
• Give normal priority to investigations to validate classification, but do
not plan for risk reduction measures at this time.

V – NO URGENCY LOW RISK: The risks are low and are unlikely to • Continue routine dam safety risk management activities and normal
change with additional investigations or studies. operations and maintenance.

Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency 2015.

Note: IRRM = interim risk reduction measures.

56 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Annex E
Risk Management Strategies from Past World Bank
Operations

Table E.1 is a summary of some general strategies that have been adopted by clients of World Bank-
funded dam safety projects, which have used some risk management strategies as one of their decision
bases (Bowles 2006).

TABLE E .1. Risk Control Strategy

Type Risk control strategy

A Rapidly address very high probability risks using both short-term and long-term measures. The urgency is sometimes
related to the degree of departure from traditional design standards and criteria.

B Give the highest priority to risk reduction measures that are most cost-effective for reducing life-safety risks, at least
to a point of diminishing returns.

C Group fixes and investigations into phases, with the earlier phases including those measures with the highest levels of
justification.

D Stage measures at individual dams, as separable rehabilitation upgrade projects, to increase the rate of risk reduction
for a portfolio of dams.

E Benchmark to calibrate the rate, extent, and basis for the risk reduction pathway through obtaining information on risk
reduction decisions by comparable dam owners.

Several World Bank operations have used some of these strategies. Table E.2 provides relevant
examples.

TABLE E .2. Examples of Risk Control Strategy Application

Project Strategies used Tools used

Albania Hydropower Dam Safety Improvement Project B, D Risk indexes + quantified approach

Armenia Dam Safety Project A, B Risk indexes

Dominican Republic, Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management Project A, B, C PFMA

India Dam Rehabilitation Project C, D Dam safety database

Indonesia Dam Operational Improvement and Safety Project C, D, E Risk indexes

Romania, Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project C, D Risk indexes

Sri Lanka Water Resources and Dam Safety Project C, D, E Risk indexes + quantified approach

Tajikistan, Nurek Dam Rehabilitation Project A, B PFMA

Vietnam Dam Safety and Rehabilitation Project C, D Risk indexes

Zambia/Zimbabwe, Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project A, B PFMA

Note: PFMA = potential failure mode analysis.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 57

Annex F
Dam Safety Dashboard: Environmental and
Social Review Summary

In connection with the Environmental and Social Review Summary, the dashboard is being developed
to provide a user-friendly tool that can: (a) support teams and clients in managing dam safety-related
risks; (b) help with filing and compliance monitoring; and (c) portfolio monitoring of World Bank-
financed dam-related activities.

This dashboard framework as shown in figure F.1 provides the three steps process based on: (a) capture
criteria, (b) risk assessment, and (c) compliance requirements. The cells will need to include provisions
for: (a) yes/no, (b) reviewed by Dam Safety Specialist, and (c) dated covenants.

The development of the dashboard is being coordinated with Operations Policy and Country Services
and will be updated.

58 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

FIGURE F.1. Basic Concept of the ESF Dashboard on Dam Safety

ESF Dashboard on Dam Safety: Classification and Capture Criteria

Type Characteristic Institutional Assessments

New Type Owner Feasibility study

Existing Height Operator Detailed design

Assiociated Volume Regulator Dam safety assessment

Protfolio Y/N Length Client Downstream population

# large = Location Consultant Downstream assets

# Small = Age Contractor Checked by dam safety specialist

ESF Dashboard on Dam Safety: Compliance Criteria

Plans Panels of experts Assessments

O&M Dam safety Institutional

Instrumentation Hydrology Regulatory

EPP Geology Dam safety

Supervision and QA Electro-mechanical Capacity

Other # Consequences

Dashboard on Dam Safety: Risk classification (Prior and Post/Residual)

Consequences
Low Moderate Substantial High
Likelihood

High

Substantial

Moderate

Low

Note: ESF = Environmental and Social Framework.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 59

Annex G
Procurement Aspects Related to Dam Safety

Procurement Regulations (Post-July 2016) vs. Guidelines (Pre-July 2016)1

Procurement under the Investment Project Financing (IPF) is governed by either the Procurement
Regulations (post-July 2016) or the Guidelines (for pre-July 2016). The World Bank’s vision under the
Procurement Regulations is “Procurement in IPF supports Borrowers to achieve value for money (VfM)
with integrity in delivering sustainable development.” The VfM concept is set as a core principle in all
procurements financed by the World Bank. This means a shift in focus from the lowest evaluated com-
pliant bid to bids that provide the best overall value for money, taking into account quality; cost, includ-
ing life-cycle costs; and other factors as appropriate.

For projects whose Project Concept Note (PCN) were approved after July 1, 2016, standard procurement
documents (SPDs) are used for international competitive procurements, although the borrower may use
its own procurement documents that are acceptable to the World Bank.

The IPF projects for pre-July 2016 are usually governed by the World Bank’s Procurement Guidelines (for
goods, words, and nonconsulting services) and Consultant Guidelines (for the selection and employ-
ment of consultants) along with the standard bidding documents (SBD) and the standard Request for
Proposal (RFP) for consulting services, respectively.

The IPF projects for post-July 1, 2016, are principally governed by the Procurement Regulations using
the SPDs composed of Request for Bids (RFB) documents and new RFP documents. The RFP approach
enables bidders to offer solutions or proposals that optimize value for money and fit for purpose, in
response to business needs or functional requirements. RFBs have also incorporated some new and
enhanced features.

Key Features of the New RFP and RFB under the Procurement Regulations
(Post-July 2016)
The distinguishing features of the RFP include: (a) functional- and performance-based specifications
that describe the desired outcomes, where the specifications do not prescribe design or methods of
delivery; (b) initial selection (similar to a shortlisting exercise) is normally used; (c) multistage or single
stage; (d) evaluated on a mix of qualifying criteria and rated criteria (which are scored against technical,
quality, price, and other pertinent factors); and (e) the most advantageous proposal is the proposal
meets the qualification criteria and has been determined to be substantially responsive to the RFP and
the highest ranked proposal.

1. Although the IPFs subject to the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) are on and after October 1, 2018, for concept review, the
Guidelines for pre-July 2016 is introduced to highlight some key differences and evolution of procurement aspects related to dam safety.

60 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

The distinguishing features of the RFB include: (a) conformance-based specifications that prescribe in
details the technical requirements of the design, construction, and so on; (b) prequalification may be
used, subject to the procurement category, risk complexity, and size; (c) evaluated using qualifying
criteria (pass or fail) only; (d) normally single stage; and (e) the most advantageous bid is the bid that
meets the qualification criteria and has been determined to be substantially responsive to the RFB and
the lowest evaluated cost.

There are also other features, such as best and final offer, negotiations, and value engineering that could
be applied to optimize value for money, as appropriate. The abnormally low bid/proposal feature enables
the borrowers to address those that appear so low that they raise material concerns as to the capability
to perform the contract for the offered price. Sustainable procurement features identified in the Project
Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) could also be applied.

Key Features of Initial Selection in RFPs and Prequalification in RFBs

Although initial selection in RFPs may seem similar to prequalification in RFBs, there are some essential
differences. Under RFB prequalification, applicants are assessed against qualifying criteria only. All sub-
stantially qualified applicants are invited to the RFB stage. There is no method to identify the applicants
that best meet the criteria.

Under RFP initial selection, applicants are assessed against qualifying criteria. All substantially respon-
sive applicants are scored against rated criteria and then ranked on the basis of scores from highest to
lowest. Based on the scores and a pre-disclosed methodology, only the highest ranked applicants are
invited to the RFP stage.

Project Procurement Strategy for Development for Defining Procurement

Approaches and Methods
The World Bank requires the borrower to develop a PPSD for each project financed under IPF. The PPSD
should address how procurement activities will support the development objectives of the project and
deliver the best VfM under a risk-based approach, ensuring that procurement processes are fit for pur-
pose, allow choice, and are appropriate to the size, value, and risk of the project. It should provide ade-
quate justification for the selection methods in the Procurement Plan. The borrower prepares the PPSD
and Procurement Plan (at least for the first 18 months) during project preparation, and the World Bank
reviews the PPSD and agrees to the plan before loan negotiations.

Quality Cost-Based Selection—Quality vs. Cost Scores Weighting

When using quality cost-based selection (QCBS), the scores of the quality and the cost scores are
weighted appropriately and added to determine the most advantageous proposal. The weighting of
quality and cost scores depends on the nature and complexity of the consulting assignment. The range
is normally as shown in table G.1, except for justifiable reasons with the World Bank’s priory review.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 61

TABLE G.1. Combined Quality-Cost Ratio for QCBS (Consulting Services)

Quality-cost score
Description weighting (%)
High complex, downstream consequences, specialized assignments (or may use QBS method) 90/10

Moderate complexity 70–80/30–20

Assignments of a standard or routine nature (or may use least cost-based selection) 60–50/40–50

Note: QBS = quality-based selection; QCBS = quality cost-based selection.

World Bank Guidance: Procurement Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support

(March 2019)
The guidance allows the following activities for and with borrowers:2

•• Drafting procurement documents

•• Attending pre-bid meetings and attending bid openings

•• Identifying strengths and weaknesses in bids

•• Advising on areas to clarify or negotiate

•• Attending negotiations as observers

•• Observing debriefings

•• Supporting the borrower in addressing procurement-related complaints

•• Drafting the final award letter or contract

•• Supporting the borrower in defining arrangements for monitoring

It should be noted, however, that when it comes to design and implementation of projects involving
large dams with a higher level of uncertainty, such as geotechnical risk, the merits and risks of
using hands-on expanded implementation support should be carefully assessed—in particular, regard-
ing detailed technical and engineering tasks, such as preparation of technical requirements (not to men-
tion detailed design report), evaluation of bidders’ methods statements, FIDIC (International Federation
of Consulting Engineers) conditions of contract, and so on by the World Bank beyond technical support
for more standard procurement-related tasks.

2. For more information, see https://ispan.worldbank.org/sites/ppf3/PPFDocuments/5902fe769a6c471fb5d8eefead8cf23a.pdf.

62 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

Annex H
Standard Project Preparation Data Table for Projects
with Dams

Section 1. General project description

Project name

Project ID

Dam Safety Specialist at preparation

Does this project support multiple dams? Y/N If yes, proceed to section 3.

Does this project support applicable structures other than dams? Y/N If yes, proceed to section 4.

Section 2. Dam characteristics

Direct financing or reliance on safety of If direct financing, nature of supporta

existing dam

Height from lowest foundation (m) Crest length (m)

Reservoir volume (million m3) Reservoir area (km2)

Size classification Large/small Type of dam

Spillway type Gated/ungated Spillway capacity (m3/s)

Powerhouse: installed capacity (MW) Power generation (GWh/y)

Longitudeb Latitude

Year of commissioning Name of owner

Name of operator Name of regulator

Section 3. Portfolio of dams (multiple dams only)

No. of large dams No. of small dams

Attach list with names, nature of support, size classification, and primary purpose of dams.

Section 4. Applicable structures other than dams

No. of structures Type of structure:c

Do any structures meet the Y/N If yes, attach list with names (if applicable) and nature
requirements for treatment as a large of support.
dam?

Section 5. ESF compliance

POE required Y/N Dam safety assessment(s) completed Y/N

O&MP(s) completed Y/N Instrumentation plan(s) completed Y/N

EPP(s) completed Y/N Supervision and quality assurance Y/N

plan(s) completed

Note: EPP = Emergency Preparedness Plan; GWh/y = gigawatt hours per year, which is a unit of energy representing 1 billion (1,000,000,000)
watt hours per year and is equivalent to 1 million kilowatt hours per year; MW = megawatt, which is a unit of electric capacity and equivalent to
1,000 kilowatts (kW); O&MP = Operation and Maintenance Plan; POE = panel of experts.
a  New dam (greenfield), dam under construction (completion), rehabilitation (including upgrading), or technical assistance.
b  The exact location of a dam (longitude and latitude) may not be immediately available but can be checked during a site visit.
c  Levees, tanks, bunds, check dams, settling ponds, storage ponds, dykes, and so on.

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 63

Annex I
Small Dam Safety: Risk Mitigation and Management

Given the local essence of small dams, local surveillance and management seem to be the logical answer
to provide safe and reliable operation of the assets. Regrettably, experience in that regard is at least
mixed. However, that should not be a pretext to give up the possibility of involving local communities.

To that end, it is not appropriate to aim at sophisticated or ideal procedures and organizations but rather
realistic to start with desirable elements of basic governance of small dams safety (as shown in table I.1).

The second key question should be: What can local communities realistically do? Table I.2. summarizes
community contributions to dam safety that are possible with some training.

Contextualization of these points to the specifics of the project should guide the design of appropriate
safety measures of projects involving small dams. The Technical Note on Small Dam Safety (World Bank
2020j) provides detailed background information and recommendation on possible community contri-
bution to small dam safety assurance.

TABLE I.1. Governance of Small Dam Safety: Desirable Elements

Awareness creation among stakeholders, especially people living within the catchment area:

• The intended activity

• The reason for the intervention

• Scope of works and duration

• Likely impacts and how they could be addressed

• The role of various stakeholders in maintaining the facility

Identify and empower the entity responsible for surveillance, maintenance, and operation.

Such entity should be at the lowest appropriate level, ideally at the local level (for example, water user associations).

Establish a regional or national entity responsible for gathering surveillance information and assist the local entity as needed.

Provide access to and disseminate appropriate handbooks or manuals for planning and construction of small dams.

Train responsible staff to enhance their understanding of safety-related tasks and to serve as “trainers of trainees” for the
community-level trainings that they may deliver.

Training should cover at least the following essential elements:

• The causes of dam failure and their possible effects

• The emergency response procedures and the chain of command

• The notification flowchart and the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders

Prepare a concise and clear description of duties, including checklists.

Periodic training of surveillance staff.

Allocate budget to remunerate surveillance staff.

64 Good Practice Note on Dam Safety

TABLE I.2. Local Communities’ Potential Contributions to Small Dam Safety

What can communities do? With basic training With some more training
Surveillance 

Routine observations 

Seepage measurements (especially for long embankments) 

Basic maintenance tasks 
Respond to simple and clear emergency protocols 

Good Practice Note on Dam Safety 65

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