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The spontaneous release of water from a barrier built to hold back the flow of water. The loss of structural integrity causes rapid flooding, loss of life, damage or destruction of property and forcing evacuation of people and vital resources.
In the past 45 years the safety of dams does not appear to have improved. The period 1946 to 1955 has on record 12 major dam failures and 2000 new dams constructed in the U.S. In the period 1956 to 1965, 24 failures were recorded and 2500 new structures built.
In a study of more than 300 dam failures, approximately 35% of the breaks were a direct result of floods exceeding the spillway capacity, 25% are a result of foundation problems such as seepage, fault movement, settlement and rock slides. The remaining 40% resulted from improper design and construction, inferior quality materials and misuse.
Dams located in Poland are as follows:
Estes Bog Dam on the Conye Brook is a gravity type dam. It was completed in 1900 and has a height of 10 feet. The maximum capacity is 2300 acre/feet. It is owned by Marcal Paper Company.
Waterhouse Brook Dam is located on the Range Brook near the Fire Station. This dam is also a gravity type dam and was completed in 1900. It has a height of 11 feet and a maximum capacity of 1845 acre/feet. This dam is also owned by the Marcal Paper Company.
No dam breaching of any significance has occurred in Poland.
A dam breach event could occur at any time. A higher probability exists during periods of high flood potential especially during the spring. Ice Jams pose a very serious threat to dams along with earthquakes.
A breaching event will occur spontaneously with little time for warning persons down river.
A breaching will occur in seconds but the effects of flash flooding will occur for hours down river.
Effects will be localized to areas within established flood zones below the dam. The dams in Poland do not pose a severe threat to persons or property down stream.
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Copyright 2002, Wayne Cotterly
Revised 10/21/02