Civil Engineering Classes Uses of Dams with Examples dam is a constructed barrier that holds back water and raises its level. The important uses of dams have made it a matter of great concern for human civilization. What are Dams Used for There are many dams in this civilized world. Although the main function of these dams is to hold water back, they often provide additional useful facilities. Major dam uses are discussed below. Water Supply Water stored in reservoirs of the dam is used to provide adequate amounts of quality freshwater to residential, industrial facilities and mining sites. Dams can be used to regulate the flow of water in rivers. This is to say that water can be released from the reservoir to support wildlife and ecosystems downstream during a drought, and water can be released for agricultural uses during the same drought. Example: Warragamba, a water supply dam of Australia, supplies water to more than 3.7 million people living in Sydn...