The control of the conceded embankments on the Rhone and the Rhine The point of view of the Ministry of Industry

Abstract

Within the context of the circular of 97/05/23 concerning the surveillance of medium-size dams, the Ministry of Industry (Drire and BETCGB) controls about 1,000 km embankments of 25 hydro-electric conceded schemes on the Rhone and the Rhine. In comparison with the high-size « 70-15 » embankments dams, these long-linear and lower embankments present a specific issue for the control: difficulties to set up a representative monitoring and an exhaustive surveillance, lack of data about structure of the works, maintenance of vegetation. The paper describes the means and methods set up by control offices and operators in order to guarantee a good surveillance standard compatible with the safety stakes of these long embankments.