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BDS members work on dams internationally
and at home. Much of activity at home is on dam safety work,
in compliance with the Reservoirs Act (1975). The BDS committee
is the UK national committee of the International Commission
on Large Dams (ICOLD), an organisation founded in 1929 to further
good practice in dam development and operation.
This page deals with some of the current
issues in the world of dams. Dams are big structures and have
big impacts. Almost all of us benefit in some way from dams
and their reservoirs. However, there is a cost for enjoying
these benefits. The environment is altered by dams and people
adversely affected by dams are not always properly looked
after. Should a dam breach, the flood wave released would
have devastating impacts on lives, property and the environment
downstream. Dam professionals, including members of the British
Dam Society, therefore strive constantly to keep existing
dams safe, and to maximise the benefits and minimise the negative
impacts of dams on affected people and the environment.
Current issues
that reflect these objectives are outlined below (including
links to pages and other sites giving more information).
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Changes to the Reservoirs Act
The changes to the Act have now been published as part of the Floods and Water Bill.
The changes have not yet come into force and may be found in Schedule 4 at:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/ukpga_20100029_en_10#sch4
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May 2010 |
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Pitt Review and proposals for legislative change
The Pitt Review of 2008 included Chapter 19 on the Effective Management of Dams and Reservoirs. In response to the review the Environment Agency put forward proposed changes to the Reservoirs Act 1975 to Defra. The principal proposed change is to introduce a risk-based approach to the legislation and ensure that those currently unregulated reservoirs that constitute a significant risk are managed.
The Government has announced that it will publish a draft Floods and Water Bill in the Spring for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Bill is expected to address how the Government will implement its response to the recommendations of the Pitt Review report including issues relating to reservoirs.
Follow this link to Chapter 19 of the Pitt Review entitled Effective Management of Dams and Reservoirs
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Mar 2009 |
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Reservoir flood plans and inundation maps
The Water Act 2003 amended the Reservoirs Act 1975 to include the requirement for reservoir flood plans. As part of his extensive review following the floods of 2007, Sir Michael Pitt recognised the need for inundation maps to be provided to local resilience forums.
Defra has instructed the Environment agency to produce inundation maps for all reservoirs subject to the Act by December 2009.
Follow this link to more information on flood plans and inundation plans .
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Mar 2009 |
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The future of flood risk management in Scotland
On 13th February 2008, the Scottish Government launched a Flooding Bill Consultation aiming to modernise the flood risk management system in Scotland. The broad objective in promoting new legislation is to provide the framework to ensure that a fully sustainable approach to flood risk management is in place across Scotland and to simplify radically the focus through which local authorities promote prevention measures.
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Mar 2008 |
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Reservoir Safety is High on ICE Agenda - Reservoir Safety Advisory Group Formed
The incident at Ulley dam near Rotherham highlights the need for continued monitoring and vigilance at the UK stock of reservoirs.
Such reservoirs have been at the heart of Britain's development both as one of the major contributors to improved public health in Victorian England and as an integral part of the canal network. The 2500 large raised reservoirs in the UK are essential to ensuring continued water supply even through periods of prolonged drought.
“Finding ways to continually improve the safety of our existing stock of dams is an ongoing process,” says Dr Peter Mason, Vice Chairman of the British Dam Society, an Associated Society of the ICE.
Appropriate research to that end is to be guided by the newly formed Reservoirs Safety Advisory Group, of which Dr Mason is Chairman. This has been formed by the Institution of Civil Engineers on behalf of Defra and the EA. The group includes representatives from Defra, the EA, owners and academia.
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Jul 2007 |
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ICOLD
DEFRA 
WCD