After the dam is built, an outlet for water extraction must be constructed for drinking, agriculture, etc.. Hand dug scoop holes are the simplest possibility, however the water can easily be contaminated. Covered wells, with hand or rope pumps protect the water much better. It is also possible to construct an outlet pipe with a tap. In certain designs for sand dams, a pipe is shown that takes water by gravity through the dam wall. These are said to not work well due to either a blocked intake, a broken tap on outlet side and the possibility of weakening the dam wall. <br>
In order to insure success at all stages of construction, operations and maintenance, the local community needs to be trained to manage and maintain the dam.
[[Image:Sand dam scoop hole.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Women fetching water from a local aquifer through scoop hole]]
[[Image:Sand dam well.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Closed well near a sand dam]]
====Estimated Lifespan====
The lifespan depends on the materials used and expertise with which it is constructed and maintained. The dams in Kitui Kenya were built at a cost of 7500 USD and have a minimum lifespan of 50 years.
In order to insure success at all stages of construction, operations and maintenance, the local community needs to be trained to manage and maintain the dam. Promote catchment-level planning & management so that varying groups have a vested interest in the same source. They can start to address
improvements in soil/water conservation, food production & health. Previous dam committees have shown that they tend to stop functioning effectively after the construction phase. By taking longer to build the dam, e.g. 3 stages over 3 years, it may give enough time for a catchment-based dam association to form & start functioning.
==Costs==