What is BDS?

Next BDS Evening Event - BDS Prize Competition (Young Professionals’ Papers)

The BDS Prize Competition for young professionals will take place on 17th November 2025 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, where the following prizes will be contested.

• First Prize - £500
• Second Prize - £250
• Third Prize - £100

The meeting will be held in person at One Great George Street and will also be streamed online and at our regional hubs. Further details of the evening are available here.

Registration for ICOLD 2026 in Mexico is open

We are pleased to inform you that registration for ICOLD 2026 Mexico is now open. This is your opportunity to secure your place at one of the most important international events in the field of dam engineering and water resources. Early bird registration is available until 31st December 2025. 

More information is available at: ICOLD MÉXICO 2026 | Presas 

The BDS will again be offering bursaries for Young Professionals and those early in their dams and reservoirs career. Details of the bursaries and how to apply will be sent out to the membership in November. 

Reservoir Incidents Knowledge Base

The Reservoir Incidents Knowledge Base (RIKBase) has been launched. This website is a collaboration between the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Institution of Civil Engineers. It is part of a number of changes as part of the Reservoir Safety Reform Programme. 

On the website you will find incident case studies from England and Wales which have been reported through the post-incident reporting process. You can view and filter case studies. You can download single case studies as a handout or download an excel comma-separated values (.csv) file of multiple case studies to analyse or review. 

Reservoir Safety Reform Programme to launch public consultation on updating reservoir safety policy

The Reservoir Safety Reform Programme is soon to launch a public consultation, seeking views on proposed options for updating the policy on reservoir safety. 

More information on the Reservoir Safety Reform Programme and consultation is available on their webpage, where a link to the consultation will be added once it opens. 

The British Dam Society 2025 Photography Competition

Your chance to have your photograph published in the BDS Journal - Dams and Reservoirs, and featured on the BDS website, PLUS prize money for winning entries: 

1st Prize £200; 2nd Prize £100; 3rd Prize £50

The BDS Photography Competition is open to members of the BDS, ICE, Engineering Students and all staff of Corporate BDS members. Photographers are entitled to submit two photographs relating to Dams and Reservoirs.