Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Durability and impermeability in a water-retaining structure are of prime importance if the structure is to fulfill its function over its design life. In addition, serviceability cracking tends to govern the design of water retaining structures. This research concentrates on load-induced cracking specifically that due to pure bending and to direct tension in South African reinforced concrete water retaining structures (WRS). As a South African design code for WRS does not exist at present, South African designers tend to use the British codes in the design of reinforced concrete water-retaining structures. However, with the release of the Eurocodes, the British codes have been withdrawn, creating the need for a South African code of practice for water-retaining structures. In updating the South African structural design codes, there is a move towards adopting the Eurocodes so that the South African design codes are compatible with their Eurocode counterparts. The Eurocode crack model to EN1992 (2004) was examined and compared to the corresponding British standard, BS8007 (1989). A reliability study was undertaken as the performance of the EN1992 crack model applied to South African conditions is not known. The issues of the influence of the crack width limit and model uncertainty were identified as being of importance in the reliability crack model.