A dam is a hydraulic structure designed to bar a watercourse that creates a reservoir by blocking its natural course.
\nIn Italy, there are currently more than 500 large dams, which are structures with a height of more than 15 meters or can contain a volume of water of more than 1 million cubic meters (for example, the Cantoniera dam in the Province of Oristano). In addition, in Italy, there are thousands of smaller dams.
Dams are crucial to the management and sustainable use of water resources. In Italy, dams are primarily used to produce hydroelectric energy, irrigate farmland, and as drinking water reservoirs.
\nThey also fulfill another important function: they store water during rainfall and then release it progressively over time to control river levels, limiting downstream flooding.
\nDams are growing in importance as we experience more frequent alternating periods of drought and heavy rainfall due to climate change.
\n","value":"Dams are crucial to the management and sustainable use of water resources. In Italy, dams are primarily used to produce hydroelectric energy, irrigate farmland, and as drinking water reservoirs.
\r\n\r\nThey also fulfill another important function: they store water during rainfall and then release it progressively over time to control river levels, limiting downstream flooding.
\r\n\r\nDams are growing in importance as we experience more frequent alternating periods of drought and heavy rainfall due to climate change.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21333},{"field_titolo":"Who is in charge of large dams?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"The operators of Italy's large dams are public or private subjects that have obtained concessions from Regions and Autonomous Provinces.
\nLarge dams are under state supervision through the Directorate-General for Dams and Water Infrastructure (DG Dams) of the Ministry of infrastructures and transport (MIT) for the safety and protection of public security.
\n","value":"The operators of Italy's large dams are public or private subjects that have obtained concessions from Regions and Autonomous Provinces.
\r\n\r\nLarge dams are under state supervision through the Directorate-General for Dams and Water Infrastructure (DG Dams) of the Ministry of infrastructures and transport (MIT) for the safety and protection of public security.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21334},{"field_titolo":"Which risks can a large dam be subjected to?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"Large dams may be affected by intense natural events (such as rainfall, landslides, earthquakes, etc.) or structural problems.
\nSome events, such as heavy and prolonged rainfall, may require the activation of spillway operations: these are common scenarios that are part of the ordinary management of the reservoir. Other events, such as large landslides or structural damage, may affect the safety of all or part of the structure; these are rare situations but of considerable impact.
\nIn both cases, flooding of downstream areas bordering the watercourse may occur. Such flooding can vary in severity: it is generally more rapid and intense in areas near the dam and becomes less severe as one moves further away.
\nFollowing the introduction of legislation concerning safety measures in facilities in the 1920s, catastrophic events in the territories downstream of dams have become increasingly rare in our country. The last significant event was in 1963, involving the Vajont dam at the border between Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto.
\n","value":"Large dams may be affected by intense natural events (such as rainfall, landslides, earthquakes, etc.) or structural problems.
\r\n\r\nSome events, such as heavy and prolonged rainfall, may require the activation of spillway operations: these are common scenarios that are part of the ordinary management of the reservoir. Other events, such as large landslides or structural damage, may affect the safety of all or part of the structure; these are rare situations but of considerable impact.
\r\n\r\nIn both cases, flooding of downstream areas bordering the watercourse may occur. Such flooding can vary in severity: it is generally more rapid and intense in areas near the dam and becomes less severe as one moves further away.
\r\n\r\nFollowing the introduction of legislation concerning safety measures in facilities in the 1920s, catastrophic events in the territories downstream of dams have become increasingly rare in our country. The last significant event was in 1963, involving the Vajont dam at the border between Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21335},{"field_titolo":" How does the warning work?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"To guarantee the safety of the dam and downstream territories, specific procedures are established that require the activation of the National Civil Protection Service. In particular, different alert phases are foreseen to signal increasing severity that may result in the flooding of downstream areas.
\nThe most severe phase is the \"collapse\" phase, which is declared when there is evidence of structural damage to the dam, landslides resulting in uncontrolled water discharge, or other phenomena that can lead to a catastrophic event, with loss of life or significant damage.
\nThe dam operator is in charge of promptly informing all authorities involved for the activation of the National Civil Protection Service. The Region coordinates what needs to be done, but the Civil Protection Department will intervene if the scenario is extraordinary. The mayors activate municipal plans, inform citizens about risk scenarios, and decide on the actions to protect the population.
\n","value":"To guarantee the safety of the dam and downstream territories, specific procedures are established that require the activation of the National Civil Protection Service. In particular, different alert phases are foreseen to signal increasing severity that may result in the flooding of downstream areas.
\r\n\r\nThe most severe phase is the \"collapse\" phase, which is declared when there is evidence of structural damage to the dam, landslides resulting in uncontrolled water discharge, or other phenomena that can lead to a catastrophic event, with loss of life or significant damage.
\r\n\r\nThe dam operator is in charge of promptly informing all authorities involved for the activation of the National Civil Protection Service. The Region coordinates what needs to be done, but the Civil Protection Department will intervene if the scenario is extraordinary. The mayors activate municipal plans, inform citizens about risk scenarios, and decide on the actions to protect the population.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21336},{"field_titolo":"What do planning activities provide?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"A Civil Protection Document and a Dam Emergency Plan must be drafted for each large dam.
\nThe Civil Protection Document addresses the actions to be implemented by the operator to activate the civil protection system. It is prepared by the branch of DG Dams of the Ministry of infrastructures and transport, in cooperation with the competent hydraulic authority, the regional civil protection, and the operator, and is approved by the competent Prefecture.
\nThe Dam Emergency Plan (DEP) is drafted and approved by the Region or Autonomous Province in cooperation with the Prefectures territorially concerned. The Plan outlines procedures for managing flooding caused by spillway operations and the eventual collapse of the dam.
\n","value":"A Civil Protection Document and a Dam Emergency Plan must be drafted for each large dam.
\r\n\r\nThe Civil Protection Document addresses the actions to be implemented by the operator to activate the civil protection system. It is prepared by the branch of DG Dams of the Ministry of infrastructures and transport, in cooperation with the competent hydraulic authority, the regional civil protection, and the operator, and is approved by the competent Prefecture.
\r\n\r\nThe Dam Emergency Plan (DEP) is drafted and approved by the Region or Autonomous Province in cooperation with the Prefectures territorially concerned. The Plan outlines procedures for managing flooding caused by spillway operations and the eventual collapse of the dam.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21337},{"field_titolo":"Where are the flood risk areas indicated?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"Municipal Civil Protection Plans acknowledge the information in the Dam Emergency Plans and include the areas at risk of flooding.
\nNear the watercourses downstream of the dams, signs generally indicate the areas most affected by the danger of flooding, including flash floods, due to spillway operations. Each dam is also equipped with an acoustic siren activated during discharge operations to warn people who may be in the area of the approaching flood.
\n","value":"Municipal Civil Protection Plans acknowledge the information in the Dam Emergency Plans and include the areas at risk of flooding.
\r\n\r\nNear the watercourses downstream of the dams, signs generally indicate the areas most affected by the danger of flooding, including flash floods, due to spillway operations. Each dam is also equipped with an acoustic siren activated during discharge operations to warn people who may be in the area of the approaching flood.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21338},{"field_titolo":"How to reduce the risks?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"The Directorate-General for Dams of the Ministry of infrastructure and transport (MIT) monitors the safety of dams, starting with the engineering, construction, testing, and commissioning phases of new facilities, and periodically performs tests to re-evaluate their stability from a hydrogeological-hydraulic and seismic perspective.
\nNon-structural prevention activities, such as warning and planning, support these structural activities.
\n","value":"The Directorate-General for Dams of the Ministry of infrastructure and transport (MIT) monitors the safety of dams, starting with the engineering, construction, testing, and commissioning phases of new facilities, and periodically performs tests to re-evaluate their stability from a hydrogeological-hydraulic and seismic perspective.
\r\n\r\nNon-structural prevention activities, such as warning and planning, support these structural activities.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21339},{"field_titolo":"When will the IT-alert message be sent?","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"The IT-alert public warning system is activated upon declaration of the \"collapse\" phase to warn the population of areas downstream of a dam that a flash flood may occur. IT-alert message is then sent to the mobile phones of the potentially affected population to inform them of the possible danger. Therefore, it is essential to know right away what to do.
\n","value":"The IT-alert public warning system is activated upon declaration of the \"collapse\" phase to warn the population of areas downstream of a dam that a flash flood may occur. IT-alert message is then sent to the mobile phones of the potentially affected population to inform them of the possible danger. Therefore, it is essential to know right away what to do.
\r\n"},"relationships":{"field_immagine":null,"field_video":null,"field_link_interni":[]},"drupal_internal__id":21340}],"field_tab":[{"field_titolo":"What to know right away","field_tabella":null,"field_testo":{"processed":"The downstream flooding of a dam is preceded by specific alert phases during which the National Civil Protection Service is activated.
\nIn some cases, the period for warnings may be so narrow that it is impossible to warn the population. Therefore, it is essential to know:
The downstream flooding of a dam is preceded by specific alert phases during which the National Civil Protection Service is activated.
\r\nIn some cases, the period for warnings may be so narrow that it is impossible to warn the population. Therefore, it is essential to know: