Damwatch was formed in 1999 with the intention of growing dam safety and engineering excellence expertise, to be an expert consultancy available to dam owners and regulators in New Zealand and internationally.

The genesis of Damwatch lies some 10 years before, when the Clyde Dam hydropower project required extensive landslide stabilisation works on the reservoir shoreline before it could be commissioned. At the time, this was the largest landslide stabilisation project in the world. More than 5,000 instruments required a dedicated data management system and explicit “dam safety” procedures for the safe management of the dam and landslides during lake filling. The world class instrument monitoring computer system and the dam safety practices developed at Clyde are a fundamental foundation of the modern Damwatch.

Since its inception, Damwatch has integrated dam instrument and monitoring strengths with high quality dam engineering to produce innovative, high value outcomes for clients. In 2001, Damwatch used its array of investigative techniques and instrumentation capability to locate a leak under Arapuni Dam, design the grouting operation and manage dam safety during the repairs, completing the work without lowering the reservoir.

High quality relationships with client and contractors led to cut-off wall construction at Arapuni Dam, completed in 2007, once again with the lake full.An award winning innovative engineering solution using pioneering construction techniques has been taken to similar major projects in North America.

Integration of dam safety, engineering and instrumentation skills at Damwatch, prevented foundation leakage failure of the Tekapo Hydro Canal in 2008. Urgent construction of earthworks buttresses to contain the canal and application of an innovative lining repair material to the canal floor was necessary while the canal continued to operate.

Damwatch has expanded activities internationally each year since inception. Expert strategic dam safety advisory services and comprehensive safety reviews are being carried out in Australia, Canada, Fiji and the Philippines. Damwatch is now engaging in instrumentation and dam safety work in Vietnam, with successful World Bank projects and instrumentation of two major RCC hydro dams.

Our history demonstrates how we maximise our broad and deep expertise. Damwatch know dams inside and out. Knowing what they do and how they act is our real strength.