Reservoir Safety Reform Programme Information Page

We are currently reviewing the definition of large, raised reservoirs to ensure that the regulatory requirements apply to the right set of structures and features.

We have commissioned work to develop a new hazard classification which is more representative of the risk from reservoir failure and the governance required for it to operate safely. This includes looking at good safety management practice in other countries and sectors and how this might be used to improve our reservoir safety management practice. The project involves stakeholders in shaping the details of the classification and what that could mean in practice for reservoir owners and engineers.

The research and development project has been extended to include Wales and will provide data and analysis for Welsh reservoirs. Defra, the Environment Agency, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales are working closely to develop options for the new classification and safety management system that are suitable for both countries. 

In the current system reservoirs are classified as either high-risk or not high-risk. The aim is to have an approach with more hazard classes and so greater scope for differentiation in how reservoirs are regulated. Reservoirs which are in the higher hazard classes may be subject to more regulatory requirements and those which are in lower hazard classes would have fewer requirements.

The research and development is both:

1. developing the structure of the classification, and

2. developing the safety management practices and how they could apply to each class.

We have looked at different options for the structure of the classification. There will be further consultation on this, but at present we have identified a preferred option for a classification with four classes. This option uses a geometry and consequence-based approach and draws on reservoir flood risk mapping information. Developing the safety management system has focused on improving current practice and adding elements of good practice from other sectors to modernise and strengthen our safety system. The main considerations influencing the proposed improvements are:

a. Greater emphasis on proactive safety management by reservoir owners.

b. Integrating risk-based / risk-informed management and decision-making.

These developments were presented at the BDS Conference in September. An online dissemination event is being planned for early 2025. The session will give more insight into the proposals for a new hazard classification and safety management system for England and Wales ahead of the written consultation. An invitation to this event will be sent out soon.

Small Raised Reservoirs

The new hazard classification is designed to include reservoirs which are capable of holding 10,000 - 25,000 m3 water above ground level. We have used information collected earlier this year, as well as information about small raised reservoirs in Wales (which are already regulated) to help inform the development of the hazard classification.

We are still collecting data about small raised reservoirs from land owners. We have created a briefing note, which explains our work in more detail and may be able to answer some of your enquiries. If you have a small raised reservoir on your land and have not already been in touch with us, please complete the form or email the details to reservoirs@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Review of reservoir on-site emergency flood plans 

Earlier this year, we launched a survey to gather evidence of the costs and benefits of on-site emergency flood plans. The survey collected views and information from reservoir owners, engineers and emergency responders from lead local flood authorities and local resilience forums. The findings from this research were discussed at a webinar on 25 July with stakeholders. A recording of the webinar and the presentation are now available. The information will help inform policy development for emergency planning and how reservoir emergency plans could be managed in future.

We are currently reviewing recommended changes to the management arrangements for reservoir safety. This includes improvements to systems that ensure operation, maintenance, monitoring and surveillance are being effectively delivered. The review is also looking to update the existing record and information keeping requirements to streamline data management practices and improve efficiency, and effectiveness.

Reservoir safety management system reforms are closely linked to the hazard classification proposals. The complexity of the system and level of reservoir engineer involvement is likely to be in proportion to the risk posed by the reservoir. 

Over the coming months we will be gathering your views to help us shape possible options for an improved management system and explore how this might be applied across a range of reservoirs. This process started with a joint workshop with Natural Resources Wales at the BDS Conference at Keele University. The workshop was very well attended. It will contribute to refining the proposal for Reservoir Safety Management Plans and how they may be implemented as part of the wider Reservoir Safety Reform Programme.

For more information or to share any views you may have, please get in touch by e-mail at the below address RSR_Programme@environment-agency.gov.uk.

The changes will offer a range of benefits to the engineering community, for example: 

• Bringing more engineers into the industry, through a recruitment programme to encourage graduates into reservoir engineering careers. This will reduce the burden of work currently experienced by both supervising and inspecting engineers, and ensure we have enough resource for future demand.

• Supporting the career progression of panel engineers. We will align the career path to the new hazard risk classifications and provide additional learning and development opportunities to help engineers succeed.
  We are developing a mentoring programme to support panel engineers who wish to progress to the All Reservoirs Panel. We have surveyed the engineer community to develop data on the potential pipeline of All Reservoirs Panel Engineers and to identify potential candidates to support.

• Securing the quality and standards of work carried out by panel engineers. We have been working with the Panel Engineer Committee and have surveyed engineers to help identify inefficient processes and unnecessary tasks. This will enable us to identify tasks that could be reformed or eliminated, consistent with moving to a more proportionate, risk-based approach to reservoir safety.

The Independent Reservoir Safety Review highlighted the importance of thorough incident reporting. Under Regulation 14 of SI 1677 (2013), undertakers have a legal duty to notify us when a reportable incident occurs at their dam. We have updated the forms used for this process and they are available at Report a reservoir incident. We will use this to support research into how we can better protect people. These forms are in a trial phase, so we encourage anyone who uses them to provide feedback to help us improve the user experience.

We have worked with the ICE Panel Engineers Committee to streamline our information collection and make our forms easier for owners and engineers to complete. We have created the option of using a near-miss form to report near misses. Though this is voluntary, we hope that capturing lessons learned will drive safety improvements. The requirement for statutory incident reporting remains. 

We have reviewed how we categorise incidents. Incidents that fall into category 1 or 2 (Failure or Incident), need to be recorded in the Report a reservoir incident – Part A: Preliminary Report and Report a Reservoir Incident - Part B: Final Report. These can be submitted together if appropriate for your incident. A near miss should be recorded in the Report a near miss form. You only need to send one form for a near miss.

We held a workshop at the BDS Conference on incident reporting which was well attended. We will take the outputs from this workshop forwards and apply the ideas discussed to make future improvements.

Our 2023 post incident report has now been published on gov.uk. Some main lessons learned from the report are: 

• The importance of carefully planning drawdown tests and ensuring mitigation plans are in place if drawdown relies on a single valve. 
• The value of routine surveillance by staff with technical training on all structures associated with reservoirs
• Design and construction must consider the preparation of the foundation and heterogeneous soil behaviours
• The importance of keeping detailed records during construction
• The importance of temporary flood protection works during any major construction on spillways
• To be aware of risks with mature trees growing on dam embankments

We will be looking at how to share lessons from incidents faster and more effectively. If you have ideas on what you would like to see from incident reporting outputs, please contact reservoirs@environment-agency.gov.uk.

The Reservoir Safety Review recommended that the Environment Agency should have the powers to question and challenge supervising engineers’ annual statements, inspecting engineers’ reports, risk assessments and reservoir management plans. These new duties will improve the quality and consistency of engineer reports and provide an ongoing national assessment, to help develop guidance and training.

As part of the Reservoirs Act Compliance and Enforcement Project (RACE2), we are currently reviewing how annual statements (Section 12s) are created and submitted. The RACE2 digital team have worked closely with a number of engineers and undertakers to look at how this process can be improved by using a digital service. We are currently trialling a new process to gather feedback from engineers and undertakers. The proposed service will allow supervising engineers to access an online system and download an annual statement template which will be prepopulated. This change is part of the Environment Agency’s shift to digital-by-default. The new system will improve consistency in statements and make the administration process for statements more streamlined.

The RACE2 service is expected to launch in summer 2025. If you have any questions on this project, please contact reservoirs.data@environment-agency.gov.uk quoting “RACE2 Digital Project”. 

Creating an ongoing national assessment 

As part of our standards framework, we have developed a process to review reports and statements to create an ongoing national assessment. 

These templates have been shared with the industry along with the new Supervising Engineer Guidance on writing statements. This along with the new RACE portal will improve the quality of S12 statements in the future. 

We presented a baseline of 41 Supervising Engineer Statement reviews at the Supervising Engineer Forum in 2023. These figures below form the baseline going forward into 2024. 

We have now carried out 110 S12 reviews. There has been a marked improvement in the standard of statements. The top 3 problem areas for statutory requirements, non-statutory and guidance areas are illustrated below: 

We presented a baseline of 33 S10 reviews to the Inspecting Engineers Forum in 2023. These figures below form the baseline going forward into 2024. 

We have now carried out 41 S10 reviews. There has been an improvement in the standard of reports. The top 3 problem areas for statutory requirements and guidance areas are illustrated below: 

We are using this information to develop the Standards Framework, by applying consistent assessments of S12 and S10 reports to create an on-going national assessment. We are developing a training strategy, updating guidance, and using this information to inform legislative changes. 

We have produced new S10 Guidance presented it to Panel Engineer Committee and surveyed all panel engineers. There is support and agreement with the new process. The guidance will help improve the clarity and consistency of reports and make them easier for reservoir owners to understand what is required.