Reservoir safety
Reservoir Safety Enforcement - Reservoirs Act 1975
The Environment Agency now enforces the Reservoirs Act 1975, making us responsible as Enforcement Authority of some 2000 reservoirs in England and Wales.
As Enforcement Authority we have the following key roles:
- surveillance - maintaining a register of reservoirs for England and Wales and
- enforcement - achieving compliance
- provisionally from spring 2009 we will ensure flood plans are produced for specified reservoirs
Our position
The safe operation and management of reservoirs to reduce flood risk is extremely important. A dam failure could have major consequences, including loss of life. Although the responsibility for safety remains with the owners, enforcing this responsibility is an important role for us.
Reservoir owners will see a much more consistent approach to this regulatory role than they have before. Our goal is to apply the principles of modern regulation to reservoirs by using an approach based on potential risk, and focused on achieving safety and environmental benefits.
We took over these responsibilities on 1 October 2004. They only apply to raised reservoirs holding over 25,000 cubic metres of water above natural ground level. The work is funded by Grant in Aid from Defra (Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management) and The Welsh Assembly Government.
Contacts
General Enquiries on Reservoir Safety: 08708 506 506
Environment Agency Emergency Hotline: 0800 80 70 60
- Reservoirs Act 1975
Safety legislation for reservoirs in the United Kingdom was first introduced in 1930 after several reservoir disasters had resulted in loss of life. This Act was superseded by the Reservoirs Act 1975, which today provides the legal framework to ensure the safety of large raised reservoirs and applies to reservoirs that hold at least 25,000 cubic metres of water above natural ground level. - Panel engineers
All reservoirs under the Reservoirs Act 1975 must be inspected and supervised by panel engineers. - Enforcement of Act
The Environment Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Reservoirs Act 1975 in England and Wales. - Reservoirs Register
As the Enforcement Authority for the Reservoirs Act 1975, the Environment Agency is responsible for establishing and maintaining a register of reservoirs, and making this information available to the public. - Report your Incidents
We want to make reservoirs safer to run, and safer for those who live near them. One way we can do this is to catalogue any incidents around reservoirs. Find out how you can report your incidents to make reservoirs safer for everyone. - Reservoir Flood Plans
The Water Act 2003 requires Reservoir Flood Plans to be produced for specified reservoirs. It is anticipated that this will become a legal requirement from spring 2009. - Defra and Environment Agency reservoir safety research and development strategy
In 2007, following competitive tender, Defra commissioned Atkins to carry out a project which would determine the strategic direction for Reservoir Safety Research and Development in the UK for the next 5 – 15 years. - Biennial Report
As the enforcement authority for the Reservoirs Act 1975 in England and Wales we are required to submit a biennial report to Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government.
