Need For Storage Dams for Water Security

Storing water has long been a cornerstone of socio-economic development, particularly for societies exposed to large climatic variability. Nature has always supplied the bulk of water storage on earth but we are unable to harness the water by not creating enough storage. Today, numerous countries suffer from water storage gaps and increasingly variable precipitation, threatening sustainable development. There is a growing need to develop more water storage types and better management of existing storages. This paper argues that water storage should be perceived as a service, not just a facility. Ultimately, more important than the amount of water stored behind a dam or in a catchment area is the ability to provide a variety of services with a particular level of security at a particular time and place. The storage system must be designed and managed to provide the service standards of interest. This paper does not present new data or research, but provides an overview of the current knowledge and issues surrounding water storage and benefits of water storage infrastructure. It outlines the new constructive water storage agenda for the coming decades.