The Environment Agency’s National Reservoir Safety Team (NRST) has issued guidance notes to engineers and undertakers of registered high risk, large raised reservoirs in England. The NRST will be reviewing non-compliances of Section 11 and 10(5A) of the Reservoirs Act 1975 (‘the Act’) against its enforcement and prosecution policy, after seeking further information from the undertaker.  Enforcement responses may range from advice and guidance, formal warning or prosecution. These offences will be recorded in the Reservoir Safety Compliance report, which will be published annually from 2024.

The NRST is also seeking to ensure accuracy of registered reservoir details. They will be requesting the information described in Schedule 1, paragraphs 1 to 7 of the Act, upon receipt of the final certificate required by Section 7 of the Act. The requested information must be registered within 28 days of the issue of the final certificate.

Copies of the guidance were issued by email to all Panel Engineers and Undertakers of high risk reservoirs earlier this month. If you require a copy, or for more information, please contact reservoirs@environment-agency.gov.uk