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  The
scour is an outlet pipe or tunnel that runs through the bottom
of the dam. It is usually large because of its uses.
The scour can be used in an emergency,
for example, when a dam is damaged and poses a threat of imminent
collapse. It can be opened to let water out of the reservoir
very quickly.
The scour is also opened
to flush sediment
out of a reservoir when too much has collected behind the
dam. The fast flowing water carries the sediment through the
scour and downstream.
Valves
or gates
are used to control the flow of water through the scour.
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