Causes of Dam Failure
Causes of Dam Failure
Dam failure is defined by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) as the ‘collapse or movement of part of a dam or its foundation, so that the dam cannot retain water.

Causes of Dam Failure:
In general, a failure results in the release of large quantities of water, posing serious risks for the people or property downstream. The most common cause of failure of earth and rock-fill dams is overtopping (31% as primary cause and 18% as secondary cause). This is followed by internal erosion in the body of the dam (15% as primary cause and 13% as secondary cause) and in the foundation (12% as primary cause and 5% as secondary cause). With masonry dams, the most common cause is overtopping (43%) followed by internal erosion in the foundation (29%).
Where other works were the seat of the failure, the most common cause was inadequate spillway capacity (22% as primary cause and 30% as secondary cause). Foundation problems are the most common cause of failure in concrete dams, with internal erosion and insufficient shear strength of the foundation each accounting for 21% of failures.
- Use of Sub-standard Construction Materials
- Inadequate Maintenance and upkeep funding
- Design Error or outdated design
- Overtopping
- Foundation Defects
- Cracking
- Piping
- Changes in Landuse
- Changes in Weather pattern
Use of Sub-standard Construction Materials