of estimated costs and construction programmes. Within the latter,
account must be taken of the resource implications of each, i.e. financial
outlay, labour and plant requirements etc. On the strength of this report a
decision can be made with respect to the further detailed investigations
required to confirm the suitability of the reservoir basin and preferred
dam site (or sites).
Further investigation of the reservoir basin is principally directed to
confirming its integrity with respect to water retention. A thorough
geological assessment is necessary for this purpose, particularly in karstic
and similarly difficult formations and in areas with a history of mining
activity. The issue of less favourable sites for reservoirs and solution of the
24 ELEMENTS OF DAM ENGINEERING
Fig. 1.6 Stages in dam site appraisal and project development: major
projects
