Most dam accidents with hydroelectric plants are due to under-dimensioning of the maximum floods of spillway design, causing extravasation and dam breaks (this occurs in 23% of the accidents). This work highlights the relationship between spillway design and potential dam failure and other important aspects of these structures and presents the methodology of design based on the international experience on the subject.

The book covers river basin studies and floods (the geology, geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulics, and layouts of the works). Further, spillway function, capacity and design flood, layouts, or arrangements, of hydroelectric works and types of spillways are treated in the book. Finally, the book discusses examples of dams that broke due to insufficient spillway capacity.

The book is intended for engineers and the companies that design dams and power plants around the world, as well as students in dam and hydraulic engineering. In short, people interested in producing electricity that is clean and potentially cheaper than other sources.