Dams and lakes are huge barriers, built along rivers and streams, to wash the water. Usually, they are built along the valleys.
They are usually built because of the many benefits they receive from them.
Dams are used to generate electricity
Dams and lakes are huge barriers, built along rivers and streams, to wash the water. Usually, they are built along the valleys.
They are usually built because of the many benefits they receive from them.
Dams are used to generate electricity in many parts of the world. The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River supplies most of the electricity in Las Vegas to the US. While the Kainji and Shiroro dams in Nigeria generate a large amount of electricity that is supplied to several cities and towns. The supply of electricity has led to greater productivity in many industries, which in turn has contributed to greater efficiency and, consequently, to greater purchasing power. This allows you to receive the basic necessities of life, such as good food and shelter, which in turn contribute to good health. Electricity in itself improves the provision of medical services in various medical institutions, since many modern diagnostic and therapeutic devices used in hospitals also rely on electricity for their proper functioning. Below are Lakes and Dams Maintenance https://waterqualitysolutions.com.au/ to guide you.
Water reservoir Restriction
The dams are also used for irrigation. After building a dam on the other side of the river, a large water reservoir can be restricted and then released at any time of the year to feed nearby farms with subsequent increases in food production, which improves nutrition and well-being.
The dams are meant to stop or slow down the flow of water in the river. They help control floods. Therefore, agricultural lands are protected from floods and destruction. The increase in food production has a positive effect on health.
Waterborne diseases control
Water is the basic need of life. The provision of portable water reduces morbidity and mortality associated with waterborne diseases. Some dams were used as sources of portable water supply. For example, the Ikpoba dam in the city of Benin, Nigeria, supplies 70% of the water supplied to the city and its surroundings. The dams and lakes can also serve recreational purposes, which also contributes to good health. They can also be used to collect garbage and silt to improve agricultural performance.
Despite these advantages, the construction of dams and lakes also involuntarily creates some problems.
Downstream areas lack nutrient-rich silt, which leads to poor agricultural yields in these areas.
Ensure adequate diversion systems
There may be disappearance of species. The dams and lakes have harmful effects on fish and marine mammals. Most of the dams and lakes do not include adequate diversion systems for these animals, which hinders their life cycles and, sometimes, causes the extinction of species.
Although dams and lakes can be used to cope with floods, they can also cause flooding with the destruction of a vast area of agricultural land and animals with negative consequences for health and nutrition.
Retention of water in the reservoir
Dams and lakes can also lead to the spread of diseases. The retention of water in the reservoir and the irrigation channels promotes the accumulation of water snails, which are vectors of the schistosome. There may also be an accumulation of mosquitoes, since stagnant water promotes the multiplication of larvae of mosquitoes and pupae. This will increase the incidence of malaria. Larvae and pupae of insects onchocerciasis bills, the black fly thrives in highly oxidized water, adhered to underwater vegetation and stones. Therefore, the upper region, which flows rapidly and is well oxidized, is a favorable breeding zone. This can lead to an increase in the frequency of onchocerciasis.
Given that dams and lakes have a beneficial and detrimental effect on human existence, an adequate evaluation is necessary before proceeding with the construction of the dam.