Water Security Program
Waste & WASH Program
Jal Rakshak & Water Guardian Network
PJRB SPARC
CHECK DAMS
A small dam constructed across a drainage ditch, swale, or channel to lower the velocity of flow.
Benefits of a Check Dams
Soil Erosion Control
Check dams help in preventing soil erosion by slowing down the flow of water and trapping sediment. They create small reservoirs behind the dam where sediment and debris settle, preventing them from being carried downstream. This helps in retaining fertile topsoil and conserving land.
Water Conservation
Check dams aid in water conservation by storing and retaining water in the upstream area. They increase the groundwater recharge by allowing water to infiltrate the soil, which helps in maintaining the water table and sustaining water availability in the area for irrigation, drinking, and other purposes.
Flood Mitigation
Check dams regulate the flow of water during heavy rainfall or flood events. By slowing down the water, they reduce the intensity and velocity of the flow downstream, thereby minimizing the risk of flash floods and protecting downstream areas from damage.
Arid regions
In arid areas, check dams are often built to groundwater recharge in a process called managed aquifer recharge. Winter runoff thus can be stored in aquifers, from which the water can be withdrawn during the dry season for irrigation, livestock watering, and drinking water. This is particularly useful for small settlements located far from a large urban center as check dams require less reliance on machinery, funding, or advanced knowledge compared to large-scale dam implementation.
Felt Need to Revive Water Bodies
However, the unfortunate reality is that most water bodies today are in very bad state all over the country. In most cases, they have become dumping place for household and industrial wastewater. In many places, they are also filled with garbage.
As a result of this, the water bodies are dying. And this makes the water crisis faced by the communities worse.
Therefore, Water body revival is critical for water security of communities and the country.
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Four Types of Check Dams:
1.Brushwood check dam
Brushwood check dams are made of wooden poles and brushes. They are the least permanent of all types, but they are cheap and can be made by farmers with locally available materials.
2. Log check dam
Made of logs and posts which are placed across the gully also can be built using planks, heavy boards. Its main objective is to hold fine and coarse material carried by flowing water in the gully.
3. Loose stone check dam
Relatively small rocks/stones are placed across the gully. The objective of this dam is to control channel erosion along the gully bed. They are used to stabilize the incipient and small gullies and branch gullies of a continuous gully.
4. Gabion check dam
The gabion check dams are constructed with large hexagonal or square wire crates (Gabion boxes) filled with stones. They are preferable where big boulders are not available.