The Welsh Government has launched a new consultation on reservoir safety in Wales to bring new proposals into force immediately.
The Welsh Assembly is proposing that the whole of Schedule 4 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 comes into force in one go in Wales. This means that the 1975 Act, as amended by the 2010 Act will apply to all large raised reservoirs with a capacity of over 10,000 cubic metres immediately.
The 1975 Act currently applies only to large raised reservoirs – a reservoir which is designed to hold or capable of holding more than 25,000 cubic metres of water above the natural level of the adjoining ground. This threshold was set on the basis of failures of reservoirs of this size in the 1920s which caused loss of life and prompted the introduction of the 1930 Act. There are currently 203 large raised reservoirs in Wales.
Reservoirs with a raised capacity of less than 25,000 cubic metres, sometimes referred to as small raised reservoirs, are not currently subject to any statutory safety requirements under the 1975 Act, irrespective of the possible consequences of any dam failure.
Responsibility for the enforcement of reservoir safety in Wales rests with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and they will be responsible for identifying the reservoirs that are at risk. High risk reservoirs are those where human life would be in danger should there be an uncontrolled release of water.
The Assembly said that all responses, including alternative suggestions to the preferred option, will be considered.
Deadline for responses to the consultation is 13th August. Click here to access the consultation document.
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