Seepage Control Measures using Cementitious Grouting of Masonry Gravity Dams – CWPRS Experiences

Hydraulic structures like dams store water for meeting various needs such as irrigation, drinking, hydropower etc. and also help immensely to attain self-sufficiency in agro productions, flood control, drought mitigation and meeting electricity demands. Masonry dams exhibit leakages/seepage due to poor quality construction, leaching of cementitious material, cracking, design deficiency and ageing effect. The maintenance of the dams and their preservation in sound health is a matter of great national and international importance. Maintaining safety of dams is a significant issue which needs to be continuously monitored to ensure public confidence, protection of downstream areas from flood hazard and to ensure continued benefits from the national investments. Unwarranted seepages in a dam are a sign of distress and need to be attended immediately. To restore the structural integrity of the dam and make the distressed structure serviceable again, various methods are adopted either one or in combination. Cementitious grouting is one of the most common and effective technique for controlling seepage and restoring/improving safety of the masonry Dams through reduction in seepage as well as enhancing strength parameters. This brief lecture note discusses the importance of cementitious grouting of Masonry dams and the various case histories where CWPRS has been successfully associated with viz. Temghar, Bhatsa, Domihira, Dhamini dams etc.