Building Farm Dams: An Expert’s Perspective on Design, Construction, and Sustainability
Tag Archives: water supply
Dam Building
A Beginner’s Guide To Building Your First Earth Dam
Quick Answer: Building an earth dam starts with getting the soil right — you need ...
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Dam Building
Roy Hill Project: Delivering A Major Dam In Mining Country
Roy Hill Project: Delivering A Major Dam In Mining Country Gina Rinehart’s $10 billion Roy ...
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Earth dams are vital for water storage, flood control, irrigation, and environmental management. However, their safety and longevity are continually threatened by cracks and seepage—issues that, if neglected, can escalate into catastrophic failure.
Drawing on over 30 years of award-winning dam engineering experience, this in-depth guide provides a comprehensive overview of diagnosing, repairing, and preventing cracks and seepage in earth dams, integrating proven field practices, modern materials, and the latest diagnostic technologies.
As an expert dam builder with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with managing dams through extreme weather events.
Whether you’re a landholder with a farm dam or responsible for a larger water storage, preparing your dam for drought or heavy rainfall is essential for protecting your assets, ensuring water security, and safeguarding downstream communities. In this guide, we will help you learn how to prepare your dam effectively.
To effectively prepare your dam, understanding the specific risks associated with your location is key. Regularly assessing your dam’s condition will help you prepare your dam for changing weather patterns.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best practices, strategies, and maintenance routines to help your dam weather the extremes of drought and deluge.
Calculating the right dam size and capacity for a farm dam requires balancing water demand, evaporation losses, catchment hydrology, and site-specific engineering factors. Here’s a systematic approach refined over decades of agricultural water management.
The New South Wales (NSW) Government is setting its sights on doubling the water supply from Sydney’s $2 billion desalination plant to counteract the anticipated rise in temperatures. According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Australia is on the verge of experiencing its hottest summer on record in 2024, which is expected to heighten the risk of drought.
The unpredictability of the drought wreaking havoc in NSW is a stark reminder of the tenacity and will of the Australian people.
Australia, a country renowned for its stark environmental issues and contrasted beauty, is once again facing the terrible power of nature. Currently, towns and farmers in the state of New South Wales (NSW) are struggling due to an unpredictable drought, which poses a severe threat. We go deep into this dilemma in this blog article, telling the moving story of a farmer struggling against the wrath of nature.
Water is the most essential resource we need to survive. With increasing global challenges, such as changing weather patterns, growing populations, and depleting resources, water security has become a critical issue for many.
As responsible individuals, ensuring a consistent, clean, and adequate water supply for our families should be a top priority. Here’s a comprehensive guide on eight steps you can take to achieve water security for your family:
Rhodophyta, or red algae, can develop for a number of reasons, such as nutrient availability and environmental circumstances. A few of the major causes of red algae include the following
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company A metal sludge-like layer is infecting two dams that provide water for showering and drinking in Sydney The Cataract and Cordeaux dams have increased levels of iron, examinations have shown. Tests show that inside this sludge there is also aluminium, manganese, lithium, …
Federal Government Pushes For New Dam Building Across Australia States should ‘raise their fingers and do a little bit with us’ says Federal Water Minister David Littleproud New South Wales “has actually done a great deal of heavy lifting however other states have not” he said Littleproud has warned it will take a minimum of …
Another Week, Another Drop: Dam Storages Slip 0.3 Percent The total active storage percentage of rural water supplies on 4 November 2019 was 30.7%. This was a decrease of 0.3% since last week. Significant rainfall was recorded near Bourke and surrounding areas over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd Nov 2019. Around 95mm was observed …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company Northern NSW marijuana capital gets dry mouth Mullumbimby Council have announced that if there is no rainfall in the Wilsons Creek catchment in the following week, Level 1 water constraints will be implemented in Mullumbimby. This follows a severe decline last …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company 📋 Quick Answer Big Ditch Dam Building Company has been constructing and repairing farm dams across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria for over 35 years. Every farm dam built to the right standards — correct clay, proper compaction, adequate spillway — …
Kempsey Faces Growing Concerns Over Dam Water Supply Kempsey Shire Council water and sewer manager Wesley Trotter said Kempsey’s water supply now entirely reliant on rainfall About Big Ditch Big Ditch Dam Building Company builds and repairs farm dams across NSW, Queensland, and Victoria. Contact us for a site inspection. Big Ditch Dam Building Company …
Long-Range Forecasts Offer A Glimmer Of Summer Rainfall Hope The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Climate and Water Briefing dated 22 October predicts a 50% chance of summer rain across NSW from November to January. However, rainfall is likely to be below average across most of the New South Wales for November. The drier outlook continues …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company 📋 Quick Answer Big Ditch Dam Building Company has been constructing and repairing farm dams across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria for over 35 years. Every farm dam built to the right standards — correct clay, proper compaction, adequate spillway — …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company 📋 Quick Answer Australia faces recurring drought cycles, with inland NSW, QLD, and SA most severely affected. Farm dams are the most effective on-property drought response — providing water security independent of town supply or rainfall. Size your dam for 2–3 years …
Dam-it, thats low! . Dam levels across NSW hit record lows. It’s developing into a glass half empty situation with no rain in the long range weather forecast through to February 2020 About Big Ditch Big Ditch Dam Building Company builds and repairs farm dams across NSW, Queensland, and Victoria. Contact us for a site …
Quick Answer: The NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) has historically offered rebates on on-farm emergency water infrastructure through schemes like the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate. Eligible primary producers can claim a percentage of eligible construction costs back. Programs change — always confirm current availability with the RAA or your state DPI. Get 25% of …
NSW Dam Levels Slide Further In September 2019 Update The total active storage percentage of rural dam water supplies on 30 September 2019 was 32.6% of the total active storage capacity. This was a decrease of 0.4% since last week. The total dam storage level of urban water supplies on 30 September 2019 was 49.1% …
NSW Drought Projects Score $50 Million In Government Funding The State Government has reached into it’s pockets and pulled out $50 million for the current drought dilemma The NSW Government has decided to make it rain money to confront the state’s H2O crisis situation. The Minister for Water announced the $50m to target a number …
Quick Answer: Maximising summer rainfall into your dam means keeping the catchment clear, maintaining inlet channels and diversion banks in good repair, and ensuring the spillway isn’t silted up before the wet season. A clean, well-shaped catchment can double the run-off into your dam compared to a neglected one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Ak4VLu-2E Big Ditch’s ‘Catch Every Drop’ …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company Hoover dam was built in the 1930’s and we know that infrastructure deteriorates with time. So when will it need significant repair or replacement? No expense was spared in the quality of the design and construction of Hoover Dam. It is an …
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company 📋 Quick Answer Big Ditch Dam Building Company has been constructing and repairing farm dams across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria for over 35 years. Every farm dam built to the right standards — correct clay, proper compaction, adequate spillway — …