The dam was proposed and constructed by the Viganò company. A request to construct it was submitted in 1907 and construction began in 1916. In 1920, construction began on the foundation. In September of that year, local officials were warned that contractors were not using proper cement mortar. In 1921, because of lack of funding, the project design was changed from a gravity dam to a multiple-arch type. The revised design was approved: the multiple arch dam would be constructed on top of the gravity dam foundation. By January 1923, the dam was 80% complete and by October 22, it was fully complete and its reservoir full after heavy rains. The dam's power plant had an installed capacity of 3,728 kW.
Failure
At 6:30am on December 1, 1923, a buttress on the dam cracked and subsequently failed. Within minutes, an estimated of water gushed from the reservoir at an elevation of to the valley below. The village of Bueggio was flooded first, followed by a partial flooding of Dezzo, part of the municipality of Azzone, and complete flooding of Dezzo, a frazione of Colere and Corna di Darfo. The flood waters stopped when they reached Lake Iseo, which lies at an elevation of. At least 356 people were killed in the disaster.
Investigation
The dam was originally permitted as a gravity dam with a slight curvature, but was changed to a multiple arch dam by the client to save money. The permit was not revised for this change until after the dam was completed. The failure of the multiple arch dam was attributed to many aspects of its construction, ultimately poor workmanship. The concrete in the arches was of a poor quality and it was reinforced with anti-grenade scrap netting that had been used during World War I. There were also indications that the dam was poorly joined with its foundation. Additionally, the concrete was believed to not be completely cured when the reservoir was filling. Reportedly, workers who complained about the construction techniques were fired.
Legacy
The dam's failure was influential in the development of Italian dam design and risk assessment. As a result of the accident, multiple arch dams fell out of favour. A much smaller dam was built spanning the gap left by the collapse, and is still in use today, creating a minor reservoir. A memorial at the site commemorates the tragedy.
