Dams are designed and built to withstand any natural disaster, but since Fukushima Europe’s researchers have been looking more closely into the risks for our vital installations.
Take a hydroelectric dam in Switzerland. It is 83 meters high and classed as “critical” infrastructure. In other words, it is essential for the proper functioning of society. It has been designed to be as safe as possible, with integrated security monitoring. This kind of large dam has never failed, but nonetheless zero risk does not exist.