Vertedouros

Vertedouros is the Portuguese term for spillways, structures on dams designed to safely release excess reservoir water and thereby regulate levels and protect the dam from overtopping. The word derives from the verb verter, meaning to pour or spill. In dam engineering, vertedouros can be ungated or gated. Ungated spillways rely on hydraulic flow over a crest, while gated spillways use gates that modulate discharge.

Common configurations include crest spillways, chute spillways (which convey water down a vertical or inclined channel), side-channel spillways, and siphon or pressure-driven spillways in some designs. The choice of configuration depends on design discharge requirements, site topography, flood routing, and safety criteria. Materials are typically reinforced concrete, though smaller or older structures may use earthworks or masonry. Modern vertedouros are often integrated with gate controls, telemetry, debris protection, and energy-dissipation features, with instrumentation for monitoring flow and structural condition.

Function and operation: spillways are a primary component of dam safety and flood management, releasing water during high inflows to keep the reservoir within design limits while maintaining downstream safety. They are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure gate operation, material integrity, and an unobstructed passage for debris.

Usage: the term vertedouros is used in Lusophone countries such as Portugal and Brazil, and appears in hydraulic engineering literature describing dam design and flood-control infrastructure. See also dam, spillway, and flood management.