- Site-specific technology
– not suitable everywhere.
- External expert knowledge needed
- Labour intensive construction
- Although cost per volume is cheap, the actual structure that needs to be made is expensive.
- If dam is built in stages, it can be difficult for the community to show up next season for the next stage of work.
- Must rebuild if the river changes course
- The possible dam construction sites may be too far from the water users
- In Kenya, experience shows that up to 80% of dams might not be functioning as they should due to poor design.