Briefing: A closer look at the risk designation process for large raised reservoirs in England

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 amended the Reservoirs Act 1975 and requires that the Environment Agency considers whether a large raised reservoir is high-risk. The Environment Agency may designate a reservoir as high-risk if it thinks that, in the event of an uncontrolled release of water, human life could be endangered. Only high-risk reservoirs are subject to the full requirements of the Act. There are currently 2152 large raised reservoirs in England, of which 1739 are high-risk. An initial designation recommendation is made by reviewing available information. This recommendation is presented to the Risk Designation Panel, which is made up of members of the Reservoir Regulation team and normally includes at least two Environment Agency supervising engineers. The Panel considers the recommended designation and its decision is communicated to the reservoir undertaker. Only where there is clear evidence that human life could not be endangered will a reservoir be designated as not high-risk. The precautionary principle applies where there remains a reasonable expectation that human life could be endangered, or where there is uncertainty. This Briefing Note explains the risk designation process as well as how to request a review of, or make an appeal against, a risk designation.