Practical approach to determining risk: a case study

Procedures used in a risk assessment exercise involving three older dams on the Campbell River in British Columbia, which routine inspection revealed not to meet current seismic standards, were described. The risk assessment review indicated that seismic upgrading was not warranted in the case of one of the dams, and that the annual cost of not making the improvements was tolerable. Consequently, no improvements were undertaken. Probabilistic risk assessment, the technique employed in this case, is widely used by B.C. Hydro to determine if the upgrading of dam components that do not meet current engineering standards is warranted. 12 refs., 5 figs