UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

CE406: HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

OPERATION & MAINTENANCE OF DAMS

Dr. Eng. M. J. Tumbare

March 2020
 Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes
• Understand the need for the production of the Dam’s
Construction Report
• Understand the need for the production of the Dam’s
Operation and Maintenance Manual
• Discuss contents of the Dam’s Construction Report
• Discuss contents of Dam’s Operation and Maintenance
Manual
• Discuss some reservoir operation issues
• Discuss some general dam maintenance requirements
• Review tools used in dam maintenance visits

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 References

1.Tumbare M. J., 1986, Mwenje Dam Stage II Construction Report, Ministry

of Energy, Water Resources and Development, Harare, Zimbabwe

2.Tumbare M. J., 1986, Mwenje Dam Operation and Maintenance Manual,

Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Development, Harare, Zimbabwe

3.Zambezi River Authority, 2010, Standing Operation Procedures for Kariba

Dam, Kariba/Lusaka.

4.Mufute N. L., Senzanje A., & Kaseke E., 2007, The Development of a Risk-
of-Failure Evaluation Tool for Small Dams in the Mzingwane Catchment,
Zimbabwe, Available from:
www.bscw.ihe.nl/pub/bscw.cgi./d2606929/Senzanje-Mufute.pdf

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 THE NEED FOR AN OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAM
An Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Program is critical for
protecting the dam, downstream communities and personnel
that work at the dam. The Goals of an O&M Program are to help
dam owners to:
• ensure the safe operation of the dam,
• extend the life and achieve the intended purpose of the dam,
• protect the environment and owner's investment,
• protect the dam operator,
• promote cost-efficient operation, and
• meet legal and social obligations

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Tumbare March 2020
 DAM’S CONSTRUCTION REPORT
• After the construction of any dam of whatever size, a Construction Report for
the dam should be produced.
• This Construction Report should be produced by the Engineer’s Representative
on site or the Resident Engineer for the Construction Works
• It is important that a Construction Report for the dam is produced because:
 It gives details of what transpired during the construction of the dam
 It gives the details of the challenges experienced during construction and how they
were overcome
 It gives the details of the Supervision given and the quality controls that were put in
place
 It becomes the “reference document” of the dam for future operation and
maintenance requirements of the dam
 It becomes a source of lessons to be learnt by others who were not on site
 It can become a vital source of information in the event of litigation arising due to
the operations or failure of the dam

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 DAM’S CONSTRUCTION REPORT (Cont…)

The Construction Report should contain, but not limited to:

 Purpose of the dam
 Access directions to the dam & locality map
 Climate and hydrology
 General Description of the Works
 Key design aspects
 Construction materials
 Production works and quality control Statistics
 Programme of the Works
 Engineer’s Resident Staff and Contractors
 Specific Description with as-built drawings of:
• Embankment Works
• Concrete Works
• Spillway Works
• Outlet Works
• Access roads

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March 2020
 DAM’S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL
• After the construction of any dam of whatever size, an Operation
and Maintenance Manual for the dam should be produced.
• This Operation and Maintenance Manual should be produced by
the Engineer’s Representative on site or the Resident Engineer for
the Construction Works
• An Operation and Maintenance (O & M) Manual is a detailed
written description of systematic procedures for ensuring that a
dam is operated and maintained properly.
• The dam owner must implement the operation and maintenance
activity and evaluate the effectiveness of the activity and revise
as necessary. Therefore, it is recognized that an O&M Program
must be reviewed periodically and updated as needed to meet
the goals of an effective O&M Program

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 DAM’S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL
It is important that an Operation and Maintenance Manual for
the dam is produced because:
 It gives details of the dam’s monitoring/surveillance equipment that was
installed
 It gives the details of the dam’s intake/outlet works and how to operate the
equipment
 It gives the details for the operation of the reservoir
 It gives details of the operation of the spillway
 It gives the expected civil works that will require maintenance
 It gives the expected mechanical works that will require maintenance
 It becomes the “reference document” of the dam for future operation and
maintenance requirements of the dam
 It can become a vital source of information in the event of litigation arising
due to the operations or failure of the dam

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March 2020
 DAM’S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL (CONT...)

The Operation and Maintenance Manual should contain, but not limited to:
 General description of the dam and appurtenant works
 Climate and hydrological data
 Access directions to the dam & locality map
 Operation of the dam
o Reservoir (Operation Rule Curve)
o Spillway
o Intakes and outlets
 Monitoring and Maintenance
 Monitoring/surveillance
 Maintenance of civil works
 Maintenance of mechanical works
 List of all as-built drawings of:
• Embankment Works
• Concrete Works
• Spillway Works
• Outlet Works
 Manufacturer’s drawings and specifications for valves

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 DAM’S OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL (CONT...)
 Communications Directory
 Communications Flow Chart during emergencies
 Assignment of Responsibilities:
o Who monitors and maintains the dam?
o Who designs and implements corrective measures?
o Who operates the reservoir in accordance with the Dam Operation Rule
Curve?
o Who authorises the opening of spillway gates if spillway is gated?
 Frequency of monitoring exercises
 Frequency of Dam Inspections
o Routine
o Annual
o 5 Yearly
 Production of Annual State of the Dam Reports
 Production of Dam Inspection Reports
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OPERATION RULE CURVE FOR CAHORA BASSA
DAM

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OPERATION RULE CURVE FOR KARIBA DAM
Reservoir level (masl)

KARIBA RESERVOIR DAM SAFETY OPERATING RULE

490

488
RL = 487.8

April
RL = 485.2

Mid
486 RL = 485.5

Mid Jan
December
484 RL = 484.2
New R-Curve (since 2005), masl

Mid
MOL

Feb
Mid

Old R-Curve (upto 2005), masl

482

480

478

476

474
Beg Mar
Mid Mar
Beg Apr
Mid Apr
Beg Oct
End Sep

Beg Jan
Mid Jan
Beg Feb
Mid Feb

Beg Sep
Mid Sep
End Sep
Mid Oct

Mid Aug
Beg Nov

Mid May

Beg Aug
Mid Nov

Beg May

Mid July
Mid Dec

Beg July
Beg Dec

Mid June
Beg June
Month

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 KARIBA DAM RESERVOIR OPERATING PATTERNS
Reservoir level (m)

KARIBA RESERVOIR
Comparison of Rule Curve with Monthly Reservoir Levels
491
Full Supply
489 Level
487 Minimum
Operating
Level
485
R-Curve
483
1977/78
481 1995/96
2004/05
479
2005/06
477 2006/07

475 Projected
Oc No De Jan Fe Ma Ap Ma Ju Jul Au Se 475.50m
t v c b r r y n g p

Months

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March 2020
 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Routine Maintenance work will consist of:
 Clearing blocked drains
 Removal of any vegetation growth in paved areas or drainage
systems
 Re-sealing of cracks in paved areas
 Painting of access ladders with anti-corrosive paint
 Removal of rock falls
 General cleaning of any adits and galleries
 Maintenance of electrical and mechanical equipment
 Painting of survey beacons
 Clearing of survey lines (sight lines)
 Removal of rust from built-in parts and making good
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Lecture Dr. Tumbare March 2020
 MONITORING/SURVEILLANCE

Routine Monitoring work will consist of:

 Collection, analyses and dissemination of dam
instrumentation data and information
 Discharge measurements from outlet works, seepage zones

Routine Reservoir Operations work will consist of:

 Lakeside interests should be advised not to build below the
dam crest level
 Reviewing of Operation Rule Curves as more hydrological data
becomes available
 Five yearly hydrographic surveys for sedimentation monitoring

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March 2020
END OF LECTURE

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March 2020