Hawaii Dam failure kills 3 people in 2006On the 14 March 2006 in Hawaii, ILAUEA, Kaua'i — The catastrophic failure of Kaloko Reservoir unleashed a flash flood of black water that uprooted homes, exploded power transformers in flashes of blue light and left dozens of trees bobbing in the ocean.
Three people were killed, four people are missing. Two homes were destroyed. A large chunk of the highway was removed and dozens of trees were uprooted and washed out to sea. The reservoir's collapse unleashed an estimated 400 million gallons of water — the worst natural disaster on Kaua'i since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
This failure is one of many examples and it further reinforces why dams need to have regular inspections. Regular inspections enables problems and issues to be identified and they rectified thus reducing the risk of dam failure.
In the United States penalties are now written in law to ensure that regular dam inspections occur. "Regular inspections are paramount," said Fred Sage, field chief for the California Division of Safety of Dams. "We inspect each dam once a year, at least. Higher-hazard dams, or those deemed deficient or not in good shape, we would inspect more than once a year." Fred Sage said routine inspections not only give inspectors and dam owners the ability to identify problems that could cause a dam to fail before a breach, but also help to build a better relationship between the owners and the state, making owners more willing and better trained to look after their dams. State inspectors who visit dams frequently, Sage said, are more aware of new dangers that emerge around them, such as housing developments that arise on land once used only for agriculture.
For those times when good relations aren't enough, Fred Sage said, it helps to have penalties written into the law.
For other articles and images of the Hawian Dam please go to the links below - Inspection of dams just part of the remedy http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Mar/26/ln/FP603260344.htm
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