Dam failure
There are two types of dams in Belgium:
- The large dams in the east of the country: their purpose is to supply electricity and store drinking water.
- River dams: located on major navigable rivers and canals with undulating topography. They regulate river flows and levels and ensure traffic flow on inland waterways. Weirs are also included in this group.
A dam failure occurs when part of the dam or its foundation collapses or subsides, with the result that the dam can no longer hold back the water.
Risks and causes
Causes
Consequences
BEFORE
- Find out where flood-prone areas are.
- Keep gutters and ditches clean and unclogged.
- Envisage waterproof materials for cellar hatches, inspection chambers, etc.
- Envisage materials for raising the living areas on the ground floor and basement, such as bricks or sandbags.
- Envisage boots, buckets and squeegees.
- Protect your important documents and valuables from the water.
- Make sure you know where and how the gas and electricity can be switched off.
DURING
- Do you need help from the fire service?
- Call for help via the digital counter 1722.be or the electronic form of your local fire service.
- Call 1722 if this number is active.
- Call 112 only for people in danger.
- Is someone potentially in mortal danger? Always call 112.
- Limit your movements and avoid dangerous areas.
- Use sandbags to block the doorways to basements, exterior doors, etc.
- Remove carpets and place furniture and valuables at a safe height.
- Switch off gas, electricity and water if necessary.
- Park your car in a safe place. Do not leave it in your garage.
- Make sure that unsecured objects in the garden cannot be washed away.
Do you have to evacuate?
- Follow the instructions of the emergency services.
- Bring spare clothes and boots.
- Find out here what to do in the event of an evacuation.
AFTER
- Clean your home and disinfect damaged areas.
- Ventilate rooms adequately, but also heat them so that humidity evaporates.
- Follow the recommendations of the authorities regarding the use of tap water.
Have you suffered any damage?
- Do you need help from the fire service?
- Call for help via the digital counter 1722.be or the electronic form of your local fire service.
- Call 1722 if this number is active.
- Call 112 only for people in danger.
- Do you not need help from the fire service? Call in a qualified professional or carry out the repairs yourself (e.g. a tree that has fallen in the garden, a damaged garden shed, hail damage to your car).
- Take photos of the damage: these may prove useful for your insurance claim.
- Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. They will answer all your questions and help you start the claims process.
- Check whether the Disaster Fund will intervene in your case.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe a considerable dam failure. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- A dam overflows. For a few hours or days, more water than normal is released downstream.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Weak
Human impact
Very weak
Societal impact
Weak
Environmental impact
No impact
Financial impact
Weak
What do the authorities do?
Maintaining dams is the responsibility of:
- De Vlaamse Waterweg, the Flanders Environment Agency (Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij), the Department of Mobility and Public Works (Flanders)
- Brussels Transport and Mobility (Brussels)
- WPS Infrastructure (Wallonia)
The regional authorities also continually monitor the water situation. Based on observations, weather forecasts and thresholds, they attempt to predict the risk of flooding. When these thresholds are exceeded, they inform the local, provincial and national authorities.
If rising waters cause flooding, the local and provincial authorities launch their special emergency and intervention plans for floods.