Collection

Reservoir safety

Guides about reservoir safety for owners, operators and engineers.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 28 September 2023
• Last updated: 31 July 2024 — See all updates

Guidance to help you manage your reservoir, prevent flooding and reduce the risk of dam or reservoir failure.

Guidance for reservoir owners and operators

• Reservoirs: owner and operator requirements
  • 23 February 2024
  • Guidance
• Reservoir owner and operator guidance: inspection information pack
  • 6 July 2021
  • Guidance
• Reservoir owner and operator guidance: spillways
  • 27 June 2022
  • Guidance
• Risk assessment for reservoirs
  • 23 February 2021
• Removing or repurposing redundant reservoirs
  • 24 July 2024
• Reservoirs: How to manage your large raised reservoir
  • 25 July 2024
  • Guidance

Guidance for reservoir engineers

• Reservoir supervising engineers: written statements and site visit reports
  • 23 February 2024
  • Guidance
• Risk assessment for reservoirs
  • 23 February 2021
• Guidance for the design and maintenance of stepped spillways
  • 22 February 2021
• Grouting for reservoir dams: a guide to good practice
  • 26 February 2021
• Pipework, valves and associated equipment in dams
  • 26 February 2021
• Planning, designing and building water storage reservoirs
  • 1 May 2008
  • Guidance
• Dam and reservoir conduits: inspection, monitoring, investigation, maintenance and repair
  • 24 February 2021
• Reservoir inspecting engineers: safety inspection of reservoirs
  • 23 February 2024
  • Guidance

Planning for emergencies

• Reservoir flood maps: when and how to use them
  • 9 November 2021
  • Guidance
• Reservoir emergencies: on-site plans
  • 25 June 2021
  • Guidance
• Guide to drawdown capacity for reservoir safety and emergency planning
  • 24 February 2021
• Reservoir flood preparedness: warning and informing material
  • 1 September 2010
  • Guidance
• Reservoir off-site plans documents
  • 1 September 2010
  • Guidance

Find a reservoir engineer

• All reservoir panel engineers: contact details
  • 6 November 2024
  • Guidance
• Supervising panel engineers: contact details
  • 6 November 2024
  • Guidance
• Service reservoir panel engineers: contact details
  • 12 May 2023
  • Guidance

Reservoir safety reports

Reviews of reservoir safety compliance and enforcement action by the Environment Agency.

• Reservoir safety biennial report
  • 26 July 2023
  • Corporate report
• Reservoir safety post-incident annual reports
  • 7 October 2024
  • Research and analysis

Published 28 September 2023
Last updated 31 July 2024 + show all updates

1. 31 July 2024

   Added link to new guidance on Reservoirs: How to manage your large raised reservoir

2. 25 July 2024

   Added 'Removing or repurposing redundant reservoirs' to the 'Guidance for reservoir owners and operators’ group.

3. 3 November 2023

   Added a link to a page about reservoir off-site plans documents.

4. 28 September 2023

   First published.