Advisory Guideline DWA-M 507-1E Levees Built Along Watercourses - Part 1: Planning, Construction and Operation

The Advisory Guideline DVWK-M 210 “Flussdeiche” (Levees), published in 1986, was revised and supplemented in order to consider and document the currently achieved technological state of the art. The leaflet’s span of application was extended from ‘Levees’ to ‘Levees built along watercourses: Introduced to this end was a classification system that categorises the levees by height and inherent risk potential, therewith covering a bandwidth of vital aspects of the involved design and engineering work. Described are the specific hydraulic design parameters, the documentary evidence to be provided as well as a geotechnical design concept. The chapter on the proof procedures contains a concept for the assessment of potential erosion hazards for levees and their subsoil. Special emphasis was also placed on engineered structures located within the levee systems. In this context, guidance is provided with regard to pipe layout and routing as well as the relevant load assumptions. Given that great efforts will have to be made in the future to improve flood rotection by refurbishment and reinforcement of existing levees and embankments, this aspect has been dealt with in a separate chapter. Also addressed have been such vital issues as levee maintenance, monitoring and defence.