Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of dams.

Advatages of installing dams include the large amount of profit that can be made in the long-term. It also generates renewable hydroelectric energy that can be used to power local towns and villages. Due to the reservoir only releasing water when needed, none is wasted which makes the dam more reliable if a shortage becomes present. Additionally, the dam will create jobs for a vast number of people. The disadvantages of the dam are that it&#;s initial cost is very high which could cause an economical risk at first if the dam does not proceed to become successful. Agricultural land and settlements may be lost by the initial build of the dam and if the reservoir floods from the river valley. Another issue is that sediment often gets trapped behind the dam walls and this can lead to erosion, causing the dam to need repairs which cost money and damage the surrounding environment. 

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Man-made dams are designed to stop or impede the flow of water along a river. While dams are most commonly associated with the production of hydroelectric energy, they are used for a variety of purposes. When a river is dammed, it creates an artificial body of water behind the dam. Such reservoirs are used to supply the public with drinking water and for regulating the flow of water to surrounding areas.

Clean Energy

Hydropower provides 19 percent of the world's supply of electricity, reports the U.S. Geological Survey, with approximately 3,000 terawatt-hours generated annually. Hydroelectricity harnesses the kinetic energy of water to move turbines, which in turn generate electricity. Hydropower is clean and renewable and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.

Regulates Water Supply

When a river is dammed, the water pools and forms a reservoir. This allows population centers to collect fresh water during periods of heavy rainfall for use during droughts and dry spells. Dams can also be used to control flood water and supply a regulated amount of water to surrounding areas for irrigation. Consequently, dams provide a buffer to extreme or irregular weather.

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Floods Surrounding Areas

When a river is dammed, water is displaced and surrounding dry areas are flooded. Often this results in the displacement local populations and the inability to use land previously accessible. This can disrupt local activities like agriculture. Moreover, when vegetation is engulfed in water, the dead vegetation releases methane into the atmosphere, increasing the production of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the loss of forestland slows the uptake of carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas.

Disrupts Ecosystems

The flooding of surrounding areas displaces existing wildlife and can disrupt whole ecosystems. Furthermore, marine life that relies on the unobstructed flow of the river, such as salmon and other migratory fish, can be adversely affected.

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