Dams and water inlet structures in embankments are vulnerable and expensive elements in river-fed water systems. They are easily damaged by floods, underflow, seepage and suffer from build-up of sediment or rubbish in the water. The Tyrolean weir forms a more reliable and cheaper alternative. Water is abstracted through a screen (or inlet) over a gutter, usually made of concrete and built into the riverbed. The screen on the crest should slope downstream (15-30 degrees), to increase flow velocities and prevent sediment carried by the stream from blocking it. From the gutter, water enters a pipeline, which drains into a sedimentation tank and then flows by gravity into the rest of the system.
[[Image:Tyrolean weir.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Tyrolean weir]]
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! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Disadvantages
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| valign="top" | More reliable and cheaper compared to dams and water inlet structures in river embankments<br>
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