Owned and operated by SA Water, Warren Dam is located on the South Para River 19 km southeast of Gawler. It was constructed between 1914 and 1916 as a concrete gravity dam (conventional mass concrete, with some ‘plums’). To increase storage levels the dam was raised in 1926 by 1.07 m and now has a maximum height of approximately 25 m above foundation level. It has a crest length of 116.45 m. The spillway is located on the left abutment of the dam and comprises a low-height concrete control structure and unlined spillway chute excavated into rock. The original spillway control structure was also raised in 1926 by 1.37 m and then lowered in 1974 by 1.06 m due to dam safety concerns.

Geological Consulting has been engaged by Stantec to assist with the development of the site geological model.  The geological model will inform the updating of the detailed risk assessment of the dam, including a reassessment of the credible modes of failure, and the geological factors that make them more or less likely.  It will also be used to inform option identification and screening.  The overall objective of which, is to allow SA Water to determine the preferred option for the safety upgrade of the dam.  Investigations completed to inform the dam upgrade include drilling through the dam body into its foundation and large-diameter concrete coring of lift surfaces and other defects within the dam concrete.