Private dam safety and maintenance

If you have a dam on your property, when was the last time you checked it was safe?

Dams can pose a safety threat to communities lower in the catchment if they fail and large volumes of water are released.

To help ensure this doesn’t happen, you should regularly inspect your dam and take action if you find there may be a problem. It can be helpful to do this in summer when water levels are low as it is easy to have access and you can better see the dam wall. It is also advisable to check after big rain events, if it is safe to do so.

Remember – if your dam fails you are accountable for any damage caused.

Here are some useful guides for checking your dam and keeping it safe:

• Dam management guide (pdf): A practical resource for landholders on how to inspect and maintain your dam, including safety tips, advice and a checklist. Also available in a printer-friendly (pdf) version.
• Contractor selection checklist (pdf): A tool for selecting contractors for farm dam construction and maintenance in South Australia.

More useful guides:

• Private dam maintenance and management in emergencies fact sheet (pdf): a short overview of the issues, what to do and what not to do.
• Private dam maintenance and management in emergencies (pdf): a comprehensive guideline to dam maintenance and management during emergencies.
• Rapid risk assessment template (pdf): to assist owners to assess the risk of dam failure.

Making changes to your dam

If you need to repair or change your dam, make sure you get the right approvals:

• Get a water affecting activity permit, including for dam water affecting activities.
• Apply to clear native vegetation to repair/maintain an existing dam if vegetation is impacted, or apply for the necessary permits to create a new dam or expand an existing one on pastoral land.
• Find out more about your development requirements and the right council to contact about your development approval using the PlanSA tool.