Virginia city sued for $3.35 million over low-head dam death
September 18, 2007

A teenager was killed last year when he was swept over a low-head dam, and now his family is suing the city for $3.35 million, alleging that the city was negligent to leave the dam in place without posting hazard-warning signs. Low-head dams have been used in many places to help buttress municipal water supplies, among other uses, but they are extremely dangerous, despite the "low-head" moniker. Many communities could get safer use out of upstream level-control gates and water-collection tanks.





last revised September 2007