The Government has today committed to improving reservoir safety
through reforms to the regulatory regime and modernisation of the
Reservoirs Act 1975 as it accepted
all of the recommendations of the second part of an
independent review by Professor David Balmforth.
With the review recognising the strong safety track record of
reservoirs in England, the reforms will help to ensure that the
regulatory regime remains effective and robust in securing the
ongoing safety of such critical infrastructure so that those
living downstream of reservoirs are protected from flooding which
could risk their lives and property.
They will build on action already being taken to improve
reservoir safety following the incident at Toddbrook Reservoir in
2019, including the government’s full
implementation of the recommendations of the first part of
the independent review.
Environment Minister said:
The safety of those living and working near reservoirs must
always be a priority. By modernising and reforming legislation
and regulation regimes, we will help to protect communities and
provide them with increased peace of mind.
Professor Balmforth’s review provided us with a comprehensive
understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the reservoir
safety regime, and the progress that is needed to ensure it is
fit for the future, with safety standards consistently applied
across all our reservoirs.
Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency Executive Director for
Flood and Coastal Risk Management, said:
England has a strong reservoir safety record, but we are always
be looking for ways to improve our approach, especially in the
face of a changing climate.
We look forward to working with Defra, reservoir owners, and
engineers to implement these reforms and ensure that reservoirs
are regulated using a modern risk-based approach.
Reform of the regulatory programme will be delivered in
collaboration with reservoir owners and engineers over the coming
years, with a timeline that will ensure that the changes can be
managed by industry while maintaining ongoing reservoir safety
management.
In 2022/23 and 2023/24, reforms will be made through existing
powers, guidance and training, including:
- improving enforcement options and flexibility using civil
sanctions;
- introducing review of engineers’ reports by the Environment
Agency;
- developing proposals for a proportionate charging scheme to
improve recovery of regulatory costs; and
- introducing a free registration scheme for owners of small
raised reservoirs during 2022/23.
In 2023/24, a consultation on the modernisation of the Reservoirs
Act will look at:
- developing a new risk/hazard classification and how it could
operate;
- developing proposals to make the future supply of reservoir
engineers more sustainable;
- developing proposals for regulating small raised reservoirs
within the new safety regime, for consultation.
The reforms will build on actions which are already being taken
to improve reservoir safety following the incident at Toddbrook
Reservoir in 2019, including a Ministerial Direction requiring
all large raised reservoirs to have on site emergency flood
plans, new guidance on spillway inspection and management, new
guidance for reservoir engineers about carrying out inspections
and supervision, and research to improve the future supply of
engineers.
