演进的美国现代化水坝安全管理模式

U.S.evolving dam safety management model

溃坝对一般民众而言,或许还是一种天方夜谭,一种迷思,但从事水坝安全的工作者,包括业主、顾问工程师与政府法规执行者,必须要有忧患意识,不能因民众此种危机意识低迷,就疏忽甚至也误认为溃坝风险不存在。依据美国加州史丹福的国家水坝行为资料中心所提供的数字显示,自1972年西维吉尼亚州水牛溪坝溃决造成l25人丧命后,美国已知的溃坝就有742座,过去5年中即有380座(1998年资料)。如照这种情形发展下去,美国每年平均将溃决50座坝,将付出2500万美元的代价。美国从多次溃坝的灾难中吸取惨痛的教训,不断地改善水坝安全的管理方式,如《州水坝安全部门模式》一书所列的大纲(FEMA,1998),值得我们学习他人宝贵经验。本文仅简介美国州政府施行现代化水坝安全管理的一些情况,提供相关单位、人员作为参考。“他山之石,可以攻玉”,借鉴美国的长处,以弥补自己不足之处,也可收“亡羊补牢,犹未为晚”之功。因此,水坝安全管理是一种公共安全工作,一种避免溃坝、防患于未然的工作,属于一种预防性、未雨绸缪主动发现问题并及时采取补救措施的专业工作。愿以此基本认知与大家共勉之,确保民生社稷之福。

Since the disaster of125deaths caused by the failure of Buffalo Creek Dam in West Virginia,U.S.in1972,there have been724known dam failures,including380in the last five years(1998statistics).At this rate,another50dams may fail each year at an average an nual cost to the nation of525million according to the National Performance of Dam Program,Standford,California.The pro gram was developed largely based on lessons from tremendous losses associated with dam failures.This paper narrates for your reference a few pro grammatic elements that have been adopted for the practice of the program.A Chinese proverb says,″viewing an-other's good quality is a means whereby one can remedy one's own defects.″In lieu of learning the″hard way″from the US's experi-ence,Spirit of an old Chinese expression of″taking the precaution after suffering a loss is never too late″is reflected in the aforemen-tioned reformed Model State Dam Safety Program.As a common vision,therefore,dam safety regulatory oversight must be considered as a professional practice to prevent the hazards of unsafe dams by taking protective measures in advance and timely remedial actions as needed for the public safety.It is a basic understanding that preventive approaches taken initially in a proactive mode and reme -dial measures taken typically in a reactive mode can reasonably ensure the safety and welfare of the public.