Advantages of Dams

The benefit of dams is that it can store water in massive quantities ranging up to trillions of gallons. The exact amount of water a dam can store will depend on the reservoir capacity. This is relative to the length, and depth of the reservoir. Storing water in such huge quantities offers many advantages for humans such as:

• Water stored in the dam reservoirs can be used for irrigation and support agriculture across several miles of distance.
• Hydroelectric power generation is one of the main advantages of dams. The water stored in the reservoir is allowed to fall on large turbines. The potential energy of stored water is converted to kinetic energy and further into electrical energy. Hydroelectric power is a renewable form of energy and accounts for 12.5% of total power generation in India.
• Hydroelectricity generation does not produce any harmful greenhouse gases. For this reason, hydroelectric power is environmentally friendly. Further, water is a renewable source, unlike coal or petroleum. Hence, relying on renewable resources is better for future generations.
• The reservoir holds large quantities of water that can be a freshwater source for human usage. Dams serve as a continued source of water in dry periods especially, in tropical countries like India, where the rainfall is seasonal and limited. Irrigated water can support agricultural fields that are at a far distance from the dam area and those with limited groundwater levels.
• Dams have controllable floodgates. These control the water level in the upstream area.
• The reservoirs are a centre for recreation and tourism activities. Nowadays, many tourist activities like boating, fishing, bird watching etc. Idukki Dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Bhakra Nangal Dam are some famous dams in India preferred as tourist and recreation spots.
• In addition, they are sites for biodiversity where various freshwater aquatic species like fishes and allied bird species depend and develop. Altogether, dams form large freshwater ecosystems.
• Dams are constructed on fast-flowing water and can prevent floods in plains saving millions of lives.
• Dams also prevent soil erosion and protect fertile sediments from washing out to ocean waste fully.
• Dams also offer navigation facilities where human and material transport can happen with the help of boats.

Also Read: Biodiversity Conservation – Definition, Method and Strategies 

The advantage of dams lies in their ability to regulate water flow, prevent floods, and store water, thus ensuring a stable water supply for human needs and economic activities. The dams are large barrier-like constructions built on flowing water systems like rivers and streams. The main benefit of dam construction is water storage. When the water level upstream exceeds the dam capacity, floodgates will be opened slightly. This will help in a controlled flow. In this article, we will read about dams, the advantages of dams, their importance for human benefits, and their disadvantages.