BDS

Next BDS Evening Event - The Challenges of Maintaining a Bateman Embankment Dam

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Our next evening technical meeting will be held on Monday 29th June 2026 and will be presented by United Utilities, the recent winners of the 2025 British Geotechnical Association’s Fleming Award. Further details on the event and how to register to attend in person, online, or at one of our regional hubs will be available soon on both the BDS and ICE Events pages.

EURCOLD Newsletter No. 3 (2025)

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Stay up to date with the latest news, technical developments, and collaborative initiatives in EURCOLD Newsletter No. 3 (2025), available via this link.

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities – BDS Conference 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The 23rd Biennial Conference will be held at Keele University between the 9th and 12th of September. We will welcome up to 300 delegates, offering excellent opportunities for organisations to showcase their services and products.

Sponsorship packages are currently being developed, including options such as delegate bags, the formal dinner, Young Professionals’ event, and technical sessions. Exhibitors will benefit from dedicated space and a networking-focused Exhibitor’s Evening.

We would like those who are interested to get in touch so we will have a better understanding of demand and can make arrangements at the venue and in the programme. Follow this link for more information and details of how to register your interest.

Annual Meetings of the European Working Groups on Internal Erosion and Overflow and Overtopping Erosion

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Deltares, Rijkswaterstaat, and TU Delft invite participants to the EWG-IE and EWG-OOE meetings in Delft, Netherlands, from 22 to 26 June 2026.

The meetings will focus on sharing the latest knowledge on internal erosion and overtopping of hydraulic structures and are aimed at professionals involved in dam design, safety, and research.

For more information refer to this flyer.

EURCOLD Dams and Reservoirs Day 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Dams and Reservoirs Day 2026 is an annual initiative established by EURCOLD (the European Club of the International Commission on Large Dams) and held each May.

The third celebration will be held on 24th May 2026, with active participation from EURCOLD member countries. The theme for this year is “Securing Water Resilience for Europe.”

For more information on this year’s initiative, please refer to this link. The BDS will be support events with a number of articles on reservoirs in the UK being released in the week running up to 24th May.

EurCOLD 13th Symposium

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The 13th EurCOLD Symposium will take place in Bydgoszcz (Poland), from 21st to 25th September 2026.The Symposium will address a wide range of current challenges faced by dams across Europe. Registration is now open. Further details are available on the symposium website [https://www.ecs2026.pl/].

The Symposium will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Committee, featuring a special session curated by CFBR.

Registration still open for ICOLD 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

ICOLD 2026, which will take place in Mexico from 21–29 May 2026. Researchers, practitioners, and industry experts involved in all areas of dam engineering, including water dams and tailings dams, are invited to register.

This event offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to the international exchange of knowledge and innovation in dam engineering, tailings, and water resources management. For full details, please visit the conference website link.

The BDS is compiling a list of UK attendees so we can communicate during the event. If you have registered, please let darren.shaw@arup.com know the best email address and phone number to use to contact you before and during the conference.

On behalf of ICOLD TC Y – Climate Change: Request for Input on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The International Commission on Large Dams Technical Committee Y (TC Y) has initiated the development of a new series of bulletins addressing climate change, with a focus on both adaptation and mitigation strategies for dams and reservoir systems.

The objective is to deliver practical, application-oriented guidance that directly reflects the challenges and priorities of the ICOLD community. To achieve this, your input is critical.

It would be appreciated if you could take a few minutes to share the key challenges you are currently facing in relation to climate risk, dams, and reservoir systems. Your feedback will directly inform the prioritisation of topics and the development of the forthcoming bulletins.

Take the survey

ICOLD Newsletter 25 is out

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The latest newsletter from the International Commission on Large Dams is now available, featuring 44 pages of updates from across the global dams community.

This edition covers key developments in dam safety, sustainability, and major international initiatives.

Access ICOLD Newsletter 25 via this link.

BDS Event: AGM and International Lecture - The Impact of Climate Change on Dam Design and Safety

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The British Dam Society will hold its Annual General Meeting followed by an International Lecture on 27 April 2026 from 18:00 to 19:30 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in the Godfrey Mitchell Theatre.

This year’s International Lecture will be delivered by Michel Lino, Honorary President of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). The lecture will explore how climate change is influencing dam engineering. (for more information refer to this link)

The latest ICOLD publication, Bulletin 176

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The latest ICOLD publication, Bulletin 176, Blockage of Reservoir Outlet Structures by Floating Debris, is now available through CRC Press.

Members and practitioners interested in dam safety and reservoir management are encouraged to access the bulletin via the CRC Press website.

BDS Young Professionals Forum – Places available

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BDS Young Professionals Forum will be held at the Roundhouse in Birmingham on 24th March 2026, offering early-career professionals an opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and engage with the dams and reservoirs community. The event aims to support professional development and strengthen industry connections. Registration will close on 10th March. Tickets are £45 for a full day of reservoir-specific CPD. Further details and registration are available via the Eventbrite link.

Natural England Publishes New Design Principles for Reservoirs in the Landscape

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In response to the opportunity presented by the proposed programme of new reservoirs, Natural England have published Reservoirs in the Landscape: Design Principles. Developed in consultation with water companies, their landscape consultants and other stakeholders, the principles aim to encourage good design, integrating reservoirs into the landscape, while promoting biodiversity, heritage and public access to nature. There are five defining principles, underpinned by guiding principles and actions.

The guidance includes photographs and images of some of our best-known reservoirs, highlighting how successfully reservoirs can be integrated into the broader landscape.

1st BGA Women in Geotechnics Symposium, 2 March 2026

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The British Geotechnical Association (BGA), with the support of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS), has announced the launch of the Women in Geotechnics (WiGeotech) Afternoon Tea, a half-day networking event for professionals across the British ground engineering sector. The BDS is a sponsor of this event.

The event will take place on Monday, 2 March 2026, from 14:00 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Westminster, London.

For more information on the event and how to register, refer to this link.

The British Dam Society 23rd Biennial Conference – Call for Papers and Workshop Ideas

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At the 2026 conference, the BDS wishes to reflect on how the industry has adapted its approach under current legislation and consider how things may change with the implementation of the Reservoir Safety Reform Programme.

Authors are invited to submit their synopses (for either a technical paper or workshop proposal) of not more than 250 words to Andrew Thompson, the BDS Honorary Technical Secretary, by e-mail (hontechsec@britishdams.org). The deadline for submission is by 30th January 2026. Information should include:

The provisional title of the paper or workshop,
250-word synopsis,
Author’s name, telephone and e-mail address.

Next BDS Event: 9th February 2026

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Join us for an evening technical session with three presentations: Managing risk at Victoria and Springwell Service Reservoirs; Management and effectively mitigating ground risks in design and construction; and Recent underwater geomembrane solutions for dams and canals.

For more information, refer to this link.

Call for Papers – Dams and Reservoirs Journal

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dams and Reservoirs is your professional, peer-reviewed journal, and we are actively seeking submissions for upcoming issues.

We are sure you have an interesting project to share with fellow BDS members, perhaps a new development, an innovative technology, or lessons learned that could benefit others?

We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact the Editor, Andrew Pepper, at editor@britishdams.org or atpec@peppernet.org for more information and guidance on submissions.

European Working Groups for Internal Erosion and for Overflow and Overtopping Erosion – 2026 Annual Meetings

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The European Working Group for Internal Erosion and the European Working Group for Overflow and Overtopping Erosion have announced dates for the next annual meetings to be held at Deltares, Delft, the Netherlands, between the 22nd to 26th June 2026.

You are invited to submit an extended abstract, conference contribution, or academic article by 18th January 2026. More details can be found on the conference website: ewgiooe2026.sciencesconf.org.

EurCOLD 13th Symposium

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 13th EurCOLD Symposium will take place in Bydgoszcz (Poland), from 21st to 25th September 2026.

The Symposium will address a wide range of current challenges faced by dams across Europe. Deadline for abstract submission is 15th March 2026. For more information, refer to the flyer.

This edition will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Committee, featuring a special session curated by CFBR.

Registration is now open for ICOLD 2026

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for ICOLD 2026, which will take place in Mexico from 21–29 May 2026. Researchers, practitioners, and industry experts involved in all areas of dam engineering, including water dams and tailings dams, are invited to register.

The role of Small-Scale Reservoir Owners in Reservoir Safety Reform

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Small-scale reservoir owners play an important role in shaping ongoing Reservoir Safety Reform. The Small-Scale Reservoir Owners Group was established to ensure owners’ voices are heard, provide a forum for shared concerns, and support involvement across all sectors. Over the past year, the volunteer group has contributed to key workshops on incident learning, Reservoir Safety Management Plans, and access to Panel Engineers, helping inform future policy and guidance.

Representation has also strengthened, with six volunteer representatives now participating in high-level engagement meetings to reflect the experiences of small-scale owners. If you’re a single reservoir owner or involved in small-scale reservoir management and would like to take part in upcoming workshops and engagement opportunities, you can join the volunteer group. Read the full update here.

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

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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.

You can view the database here: www.rikbase.org.uk.

If you have any feedback on the site, please send this to  reservoir.incidents@environment-agency.gov.uk.

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

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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 Call for Papers is now open for ICOLD 2026

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Call for Papers is now open for ICOLD 2026, which will take place in Mexico from 21–29 May 2026. Researchers, practitioners, and industry experts are invited to submit abstracts on all aspects of dam engineering, hydropower, and tailings management. The deadline for abstract submission is 10 October 2025.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the international exchange of knowledge and innovation in dam engineering, tailings, and water resources management.

For full details, including submission guidelines, please visit this link.

European Working Groups for Internal Erosion and for Overflow and Overtopping Erosion – 2026 Annual Meetings

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

You are invited to submit an extended abstract, conference contribution, or academic article by 18 January 2026. More details can be found on the conference website: ewgiooe2026.sciencesconf.org.

The British Dam Society 2025 Photography Competition

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

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.

Entrants should clearly state the name of the dam, its location, and the date the photograph was taken.

High-resolution, electronic images (JPEG format) should be uploaded to www.britishdams.org

Closing Date for Entries: Friday, 7th November 2025

More information can be found on the flyer.

Dolgarrog 100: Honouring the Past | Celebrating the Present | Inspiring the Future (organised by the Dolgarrog Community Council)

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

On 2nd November 2025, the village of Dolgarrog will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 dam disaster. The commemorative event will include a formal remembrance service to remember those lost during the incident; A guided historical tour featuring immersive storytelling and insight into the events of 1925; a specially commissioned music and light performance; creative exhibitions and interactive community activities. All activities will take place in the heart of the village. This landmark centenary reflects on Dolgarrog’s legacy of resilience and its significant influence on UK dam safety, while celebrating the strength, spirit and creativity of the community and looking ahead to a united and inspiring future.

Further information is available on the event website: https://www.dolgarrogcommunitycouncil.org/dolgarrog-100-2nd-november-2025

Dolgarrog and other reservoir disasters of the 1800s and 1900s and implications for UK reservoir safety legislation

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

On the 30th October there will be a webinar hosted by ICE Wales on the Dolgarrog Dam Disaster and implications for UK reservoir safety legislation. Registration is through the ICE website here (https://www.ice.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/dolgarrog-and-other-reservoir-disasters-of-the-1800s-and-1900s).

EurCOLD’s second webinar: “Mitigating Flood Risk: The Strategic Role of Dams in Europe”

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

EurCOLD is pleased to announce its second webinar, organised in collaboration with ICOLD YPF, which will focus on the important theme: “Mitigating Flood Risk: The Strategic Role of Dams in Europe.”

This session will explore how dams play a critical role in managing flood risk, enhancing resilience, and supporting sustainable water management across Europe. Expert speakers from different sectors will share insights, experiences, and best practices, making this an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and engage in discussion with colleagues from across the industry.

Date: 30th September 2025
Time: 13:30 (CET)

We warmly encourage all members and interested professionals to join us for this informative and timely event.

You may find more details in the attached flyer and register to attend the webinar by following this link.

Supervising Engineers Forum – Registration is now open

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The next Supervising Engineers Forum will be held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on Thursday, 18th September 2025. The registration is now open, registration closes on 29th August 2025. Additional information, including the topics covered, can be found here.

Update on activities of the Panel Engineers Committee

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) formed the Panel Engineers’ Committee (PEC) to serve as a unified voice for engineers appointed to the various panels under the Reservoirs Act. The purposes of the PEC are to provide proactive advice on the best ways to protect the public from the risk of flooding due to dam failure, and to offer feedback, comments, and advice on the implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Review Report (the Balmforth Report), published in March 2021, in England and Wales.

For more information and updates on the activities of the Panel Engineers’ Committee, please refer to the following link.

Reservoir Safety Reform Programme (release of latest research reports)

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Reservoir Safety Reform Programme has recently made research reports from the hazard classification development project available on Defra Science Search. The first link below provides access to the various reports covering the development of a proposal for hazard classification for reservoir safety in England and Wales. The second report link provides evidence and costs for on-site emergency flood plans for reservoirs in England.

FD2739 - Developing a new hazard classification for Reservoir Safety in England and Wales - FD2739

FD2742 - Evidence on costs and benefits of on-site emergency flood plans for reservoirs - FD2742

Consultation on grant support for initial supervision and inspection in Northern Ireland

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, is seeking views on proposals for a grant scheme to support reservoir managers with the initial supervision and inspection requirements of the Reservoirs Act (NI) 2015. Details of the proposals and how to submit your views can be found here.

Earthworks 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Earthworks Conference 2025 is being held at the University of Birmingham between the 15th and 18th September 2025. Registration is now open, and more information can be found here.

Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The 2025 Competition is now open for entries until 15 August for a chance to win £1000! The competition celebrates the power of photography in conveying the wonder of science happening all around us and photographs can be submitted in the categories of: Astronomy, Behaviour, Earth Science and Climatology, Ecology and Environmental Science, and Microimaging.

The competition is free to enter and open to anyone studying or working in science at graduate level or above. Category winners will receive a one-year membership to the Royal Photographic Society and the overall winner will receive a grand prize of £1,000. Find out more here.

Bluesky link

Flyer

BDS Young Professionals

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

CPD Event

The dates of up-and-coming YP CPD events can now be found on the BDS website here. The next event shall be on the 24th April 2025. The topic will be ‘Hydraulics 101’.

Improving Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) and Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) estimation for reservoir safety

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme published a report for FRS19222 Improving Probable Maximum Precipitation and Probable Maximum Flood for Reservoir Safety on GOV.UK here.

The research reviewed the methods used to estimate probable maximum rainfall and flows for reservoir safety. The report describes the first phase of a project that aims to assess the suitability of methods for estimating PMP and PMF. Accompanying the report, is a spreadsheet tool that applies the current PMP and PMF methods, including calculating snowmelt.

Skelmorlie centenary commemorations – BDS supports a memorial

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

18th April is the centenary of the flooding of Skemorlie in Scotland due to the failure of a reservoir. It resulted in the deaths of five people within the village. The BDS has been supporting the local committee with preparations for the commemorations. We have sponsored a memorial to the event which will be displayed in the community. We would like to offer our thanks to Martin Deane of Mott MacDonald who presented to the community in March on reservoir disasters, legislation, and current work on reservoirs. We would also like to thank Stephen Lockett of Mott MacDonald for offering to represent the BDS at the event on 18th April.

ICE Event

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Complex reservoir remediation projects in North Wales: contractor’s perspective

On the 17th April a webinar organised by the ICE will be given on the complex construction challenges faced by Contractors. This presentation will cover four different reservoir projects undertaken in Wales. More information on the event can be found here.

Dolgarrog centenary commemorations – a call for help

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This November marks the centenary of the flooding of Dolgarrog in North Wales caused by the failure of two reservoir dams. Sixteen people died that night: six children and ten adults. This event was a significant prompt for the introduction of legislation to demand minimum standards needed to protect people from dam failure. This is a call for BDS members to help support a variety of planned commemoration events. If you would like to help, please get in touch with bds@ice.org.uk.

BDS Announcements

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

AGM & Evening Meeting

The next AGM and Evening Meeting will be held on 28th April in person at One Great George Street. It will also be streamed online, as well as the regional hubs. More information on the event can be found here.

Next Supervising Engineers Forum – Call for Presentations

The next Supervising Engineers Forum will be held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on Thursday 18th September 2025. We are now calling for presentations, with a closing date for submissions of Friday 16th May 2025. Additional information including the topics to be covered can be found here.

Site Visits

The site visit to observe the works being undertaken at Toddbrook Reservoir took place on the 26th March 2025. Thanks to all those that attended. Hopefully you found it both informative and interesting.

ICOLD

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

28th ICOLD Congress and 93rd Annual Meeting - Chengdu, China, 15th to 23rd May 2025

The 28th ICOLD Congress and 93rd is fast approaching. This promises to be a very interesting event, particularly bearing in mind some of the impressive dams that have and are currently being constructed in China. For all those attending could they let the BDS know, that way we can reach out and make sure everyone is invited to any BDS gatherings whilst we are there. We will also share details of the EurCOLD social evening being sponsored by CarpiTech so you can register for the event.

BDS Young Professional Bursaries for this Years ICOLD Congress and Meeting

This year the BDS is delighted to be able to once again offer five bursaries of £1,000 each. We received an unprecedented number of applications from members keen to take advantage of the bursary. The successful applicants have now been notified and we look forward to seeing them in Chengdu in May.

Updates

The bulletins approved in New Delhi (Bulletin 199 to Bulletin 206) have been put in ‘preprint’ version on the website (in the Publication section).

To download these bulletins, please go to the publication page of the ICOLD website here https://www.icold-cigb.org/GB/publications/bulletins.asp

ICOLD Newsletter

Please follow this link to the latest ICOLD newsletter, this document contains lots of useful information including an introduction to the ICOLD Congress in China.

Dams and Reservoirs Day- EurCOLD (ICOLD European club)

The second Dams and Reservoirs Day is to be held on 28th May 2025. The initiative was launched by the Italian Committee on Large Dams (ITCOLD) in 2023 to advocate for, recognize contributions to, and promote knowledge about the role of dams, reservoirs, tailings dams, and levees in economic, social, and environmental contexts. The main objectives of Dams and Reservoirs Day include:

• Raising public awareness about dams, reservoirs, tailings dams, and levees. • Engaging local communities and highlighting their value in sustainable social development and prosperity. • Educating children, young people, and society on their contributions. • Providing high school students and young professionals with information on job opportunities in the sector. • Promoting interactions between professionals and administrative bodies involved in the field.

This year the title of the day will be “ Water and Energy Security for Europe”.

Last year, the BDS promoted a campaign on LinkedIn over a period of a week, where we focussed who the BDS were, UK Reservoir Legislation, historical dam incidents and a selection of current construction projects.This year, the BDS would like to participate once again in the day, so if you have any ideas such as site visits/special lectures etc, then please contact bds@ice.org.uk with your ideas of how you can help us participate in this day.

31st European Working Group on Internal Erosion and 6th on Overtopping and Erosion

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The 31st EWG on IE and the 6th EWG on OOE will be taking place at the University of Brno between 23rd and 28th June 2025. More information can be found here.

Earthworks 2025

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Earthworks Conference 2025 is being held at the University of Birmingham between the 16th and 17th September 2025. More information can be found here

The ‘International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences’

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Internal collaboration between Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Environment Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in Japan, and others has resulted in a new manual called the International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences, which has some useful information that is also applicable to dams. A link to the handbook can be found here.

EA Reservoir safety post-incident annual reports

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The EA has released the Post Incident reporting for reservoirs 2023. The report can be found here.

28th ICOLD Congress and 93rd Annual Meeting - Chengdu, China, 15th to 23rd May 2025

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Chengdu in China will be hosting the 28th ICOLD Congress and 93rd Annual Meeting in May 2025. This promises to be a very interesting event, particularly bearing in mind some of the impressive dams that have and are currently being constructed in China. More details can be found here.

Earthworks 2025

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Earthworks Conference 2025 is being held at the University of Birmingham between the 16th and 17th September 2025. Abstract submission is now open, with a variety of themes available for discussion, more information can be found here.

Hydro 2024

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hydro 2024 is being held in Graz, Austria between the 18th and 20th November 2024. With a growing number of pumped hydro schemes being developed and gaining headlines in the UK, this could be of interest to those involved or wishing to learn more. Further details can be found here.

Association of Sate Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The ASDSO has a series of webinars that can be either streamed and watched live or can be watched on demand. These webinars cover a variety of different dam engineering topics and can be very useful. One of their recent webinars was on ‘Tools for Designing and Assessing Spillways’. More information can be found here.

Reservoir Safety Reform Programme - Update on the dissemination event for the Hazard Classification development project

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

An online dissemination event is being planned for early 2025 as part of Defra and the Environment Agency's Reservoir Safety Reform Programme. This follows on from Darren Shaw’s presentation and paper at the BDS conference about the project development. The session will give more insight into the proposals for a new hazard classification and safety management system for England and Wales. The date and time of the event will be confirmed in due course.

Upcoming Events

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

November Evening Meeting

At One Great George Street on the 18th November Julian Welbank (SE), Dominic Molyneux (ARPE), Chris Scott (ARPE) will be presenting discussion papers on: The Changing Role of the Supervising Engineer; The Construction Engineer and Panel of Specialists; and Quality and Safety of Reservoirs. More information can be found here.

British Dam Society - 22nd Biennial Conference - SOLD OUT

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Thank you to those who have registered for the BDS conference. We can confirm that we have about 300 delegates signed up to the event, inclusive of 17 exhibitors. Thank you to our confirmed Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors for committing to support the event.

Main delegate tickets SOLD OUT prior to the closure of ticket sales.

However, some opportunities are or might be available following closure of main registration;

Sometimes additional delegate places become available. For those who have missed out on registration but would still like to attend, we are currently forming a waiting list.
We can admit one additional exhibitor. This opportunity includes a desk in the exhibitor area, and full conference admission for a single delegate.
We have several bronze sponsorship opportunities available.

To discuss the above opportunities, please send an email to bdsconference@britishdams.org. These will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

British Dam Society 2024 Conference - LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference will be held at the University of Keele (Chancellors Building) from Wednesday 11th until Saturday 14th September 2024.

Registration for this event will close on Sunday 28th July 2024 (midnight).

Currently more than 260 delegates and 16 exhibitors are confirmed to be attending. As of writing, there are fewer than 30 tickets remaining.

>>> The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference <<<

British Dam Society 2024 Conference - FINAL WEEK OF REGISTRATION

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference will be held at the University of Keele (Chancellors Building) from Wednesday 11th until Saturday 14th September 2024.

Registration for this event is now open and will close on Sunday 28th July 2024 (midnight). Register now to secure your spot. Currently more than 180 delegates and 15 exhibitors are confirmed to be attending.

>>> The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference <<<

We are please to announce:

Keynote Speaker - Sally Sudworth CEng CEnv - Trustee - REDR UK
Binnie Lecturer - Alan Brown - Global Technology Lead - Dams at Jacobs

Paper Sypnoses Now Available

A document of the conference paper synopses is now available for download - click here.

British Dam Society 2024 Conference – 2 Weeks left to register

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference will be held at the University of Keele (Chancellors Building) from Wednesday 11th until Saturday 14th September 2024.

Registration for this event is now open and will close on Sunday 28th July 2024 (midnight).

>>> The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference <<<

Confirmed Sponsors

BDS are pleased to announce the following companies will be sponsoring the BDS conference:

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Edwards Diving Services Ltd.

Glenfield Invicta

Atkins Realis

Bronze Sponsors

Binnies

JN Bentley

+ 3 more BRONZE opportunities

To discuss opportunities, please contact: BDSconference@britishdams.org

Confirmed Exhibitors

BDS are pleased to announce the following companies will be exhibiting at the BDS conference:

AGO Fire & Rescue Ltd
CC Hydrodynamics
Edwards Diving Services Ltd
Reservoir & Water Services
Carpi Tech B.V.
Soil Engineering Geoservices Ltd
Solexperts GmbH
Glenfield Invicta
Stillwater Associates
TerraDat Ltd
Hesselberg Hydro (UK) Ltd
CRM Rainwater Drainage Consultancy Ltd
Blackhall Engineering

There are still 7 exhibitor spaces available, which can be booked through the registration link.

ICOLD 2026 Annual Meeting – Change in host County

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Given the current tense international situation, the 2026 annual meeting in Iran has been postponed. A lot of delegates will be unable to travel to Iran and several embassies are not allowing their nationals to travel to Iran or are advising against it.

In this context, the Mexican Committee has graciously agreed to bring forward to 2026 the Annual Meeting originally scheduled for 2027.

30th European Working Group (EWG) on Internal Erosion & 5th EWG on Overflow and Overtopping Erosion

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The next EWG on Internal Erosion and Overflow and Overtopping Erosion will be held in Bologna, Italy between the 9th and 13th September 2024. Unfortunately, the date of these meetings clashes with the next BDS conference. However, should you wish to attend warmer climes both meetings will be organized by the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna. The deadline for abstracts is 30th June 2024. More information is available here.

7th European Working Group (EWG) on Dams and Earthquakes

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The 7th meeting of the European working group shall be in Athens between the 12th and 13th September 2024. For more information, please refer to the following link.

Forthcoming BDS Events

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Service Reservoirs (Thames Water)

The next technical meeting, which is entitled “The Service Reservoir – More than just a concrete box” will be presented by Jon Green and Bryn Philpott of Thames Water on the 8th of July 2024. The meeting will take place online, and at our various hubs across the country, more information can be found on the Events page. Please note that One Great George Street is currently closed for refurbishment so there will not be any in-person meeting.

BDS Conference 2024 - NOW OPEN

The next biennial conference will be held at Keele University from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th September 2024. Registration for the event is now open. Information on the conference and how to register as a delegate, exhibitor and/or sponsor can be found here.

BDS Photo Competition 2024

The 2024 BDS Photo competition is open! More details can be found under the following link. Winners will be announced at the BDS Conference in September.

Site Visits

The BDS site visit to Toddbrook has been cancelled and a new date will be confirmed in the future.

BDS Conference 2024 - Registration Now Open

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference will be held at the University of Keele (Chancellors Building) from Wednesday 11th until Saturday 14th September 2024.

Registration for this event is now open and will close on Sunday 28th July 2024 (midnight).

>>> The British Dam Society 22nd Biennial Conference <<<

The conference website can be accessed here. This page contains full details of the conference including programme, workshop descriptions, site visit information and technical synopses. Exhibitor flyers and sponsorship opportunity flyers are also available. Exhibition spaces can be secured online using the normal registration process. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and further details can be found on the sponsorship flyer.

After the successful changes/additions that were made for the last conference, we are pleased to continue with a similar format for this year:

Exhibitor Drinks Reception on Wednesday evening
Young Professionals led social event on Thursday evening
BDS Formal Dinner & Binnie Lecture on Friday evening
Possibility of upgrading accommodation to the on-site hotel
Electronic copy of technical proceedings only

Upon registration you will be required to state if you intend to attend the social events.

The conference organising committee look forward to welcoming you to the University of Keele in September.

Dam Day – Reservoirs for Europe

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The ICOLD European Club (EurCOLD) has announced that the inaugural European Dam Day will be held on 29th May 2024. The aims of the day include raising public awareness about dams, promoting careers in the industry to students and young professionals, and encouraging networking between those in the profession. Events organised by national committees will be held across Europe. The BDS will be supporting the event with a social media campaign over that week. We encourage the membership to engage with the posts and spread the information across their networks.

EurCOLD Newsletter

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The annual ICOLD European Club newsletter has just been published. It includes summaries of activities undertaken last year, including the 91st ICOLD meeting in Gothenburg, news from different national committees and activities ahead in 2024. More information can be found under the following link.

Independent Reservoir Review

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Environment Agency has published new guidance for inspecting engineers relating to the inspection of high risk reservoirs, which can be accessed here. This update reflects the recommendations made in the Independent Reservoir Safety Review. The Environment Agency has worked with the ICE Panel Engineers Committee and consulted the wider engineering community. They have also updated their guidance for reservoir undertakers (owners and operators) in relation to appointments of engineers, which can be accessed here. They recommend that different people should carry out the roles of inspecting, construction and supervising engineer at a reservoir. They believe this will ensure the independence of supervision and inspection, with different engineers providing a fresh perspective.

ICOLD Innovation Awards 2025

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) confers the International ICOLD Innovation Awards for innovative scientific and technical contributions, in the field of dams and reservoirs with special focus on their role in sustainable water resources management under consideration of environmental constraints. More information and details on how to apply can be found here.

BRITISH DAM SOCIETY 22nd BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

CALL FOR PAPERS

Managing Risks for Dams and Reservoirs

To be held at:

Keele University

Wednesday 11th September to Saturday 14th September 2024

At the 2024 conference the BDS wishes to reflect on how in recent years the industry has refocused to better understanding the risks associated with our dams and reservoirs and also try to understand the impacts climate change will have on the industry in future.

Papers are invited to cover examples of and developments in the following topics:

Risk assessments – research, case studies and guidance
Reducing risks - mitigations/improvements
Risks and impacts associated with climate change
Service reservoirs and small raised reservoirs
Legislation and guidance
Developments of Reservoir Safety Management Plans (RSMP)

In addition to the traditional synopses the BDS would also welcome any proposals for workshop ideas, as following the success of the previous conferences the BDS would like to continue to include workshops as part of the main conference programme

the provisional title of the paper or workshop,
250 word synopsis,
Author’s name, telephone and e-mail address.

Receipt of your synopsis will be acknowledged.

Synopses should be submitted by 28th January 2024

Authors will be informed of whether their synopsis has been accepted by the end of January 2024.

Completed papers will be required by 6th May 2024

All accepted papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings

International Symposium on Dams and Earthquakes

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The 7th meeting of the European working group shall be in Athens between the 12th and 13th September 2024. For more information, please refer to the following link.

Landscape-led Design Principles and Guidance for New Reservoirs and Associated Infrastructure

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The National Framework for Water Resources published by the Environment Agency in 2020, and the more recent regional water resource plans and water company Water Resource Management Plans consulted on in 2023 include the development of new water resources including over 10 new reservoirs over the next 25 years.

Natural England have recently launched a project to prepare guidance on ensuring that opportunities to enhance the natural landscape are maximised – see flyer for more information. Members are welcome to contact the project team directly. Also, Julian Welbank is supporting the project through a link with his work for the West Country Water Resources Group (julian.welbankj@gmail.com).

The BDS Prize Competition Results

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The results of the BDS prize competition were announced on the 20th November 2023. Thank you to our finalists Daniel Morris- Stantec, Thomas Rigby – United Utilities, Emily Hale – Mott Macdonald, Veronika Martin- Arup, Matt Craig – Mott Macdonald, who presented their papers with great confidence and answered many questions from the audience on the night.

The winners of the BDS Young Professionals Prize were:

1st: Veronika Martin – “Exploring Efficiency of Labyrinth vs Ogee Spillway Weirs at High Hydraulic Heads – A Case Study in Zambia”
2nd: Matthew Craig – “Dunside Reservoirs Discontinuance – Taking a New Approach”
3rd: Daniel Morris – “Existing washout valve replacement and installation of a new control valve at the outlet at Burnhope Reservoir”

Thank you to all those who entered; the BDS has been impressed by the high standard of entries this year.

New Ciria Guidance Document

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

CIRIA has released a new guidance document entitled ‘Siphons in dams – design, installation, operation, management and testing (C813)’ a link to more information can be found here.

CIWEM Webinar - Global engineering response to the Kakhovka Dam breach failure in Ukraine

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

CIWEM are hosting an online webinar about the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on 3rd October 2023. Information about the event can be accessed here. This lunchtime webinar is produced in collaboration with the CIWEM Rivers & Coastal group, the CIWEM Welsh Branch, and Arcadis. The panellists will discuss the global engineering response to the 2023 breach of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine.

Post-incident reporting for Reservoirs

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Environment Agency has published its annual post-incident report on reservoir safety incidents in England. Six incidents are included in the report, which can be found here.

The 9th International Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete Dams and Cemented Material Dams

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The 9th International Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete Dams and Cemented Material Dams will be held from 4th to 8th December 2023, in Guangzhou City, China. It is co-organized by the JCOLD, SPANCOLD, CFBR and CHINCOLD. Symposium information can be found by visiting the event website.

Forthcoming BDS Events

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Technical Meetings

The next BDS evening technical meeting will be on 2nd October 2023. This will be held at the ICE in London. The topic to be presented on in the evening shall be the discontinuance of reservoirs.

Site Visits

The BDS site visit to Toddbrook is fast approaching and will be held in February 2024.

Reservoir Safety Reform Programme Information Page

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Environment Agency are currently developing the Reservoir Safety Reform Programme in response to the recommendations set out in the Independent Reservoir Safety Review Report by Professor Balmforth. A dedicated website has been launched that provides updates on programme progress, to find out more about this, a link to the website can be found here.

Supervising Engineers Forum 2023 - Registration Closes Today

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Today is the final day of registration for the Supervising Engineers' Forum, which will take place on the 7th September 2023.

>>> Click here to register <<<

Supervising Engineers' Forum 2023 – Registration Deadline Today

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The 2023 Supervising Engineers' Forum will be held on Thursday 7th September 2023. Registration for the event is open. More than 200 delegates have registered to date. Further details including how to register can be found here. The closing date for registration is today (23rd August).

>>> Register Now <<<

Supervising Engineers Forum 2023 - Registration Now Open

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Registration for the Supervising Engineers’ Forum is now open. We are pleased to inform you that the forum will be an in-person event at the National Conference Centre Birmingham on Thursday 7th September 2023

Information regarding the event, provisional programme can all be found on the Events Calendar page of the BDS website.

Registration to this event can be completed on the SE Forum page of the BDS website.

>>> REGISTRATION <<<

Queries regarding this events should be made to registrations@britishdams.org

Forthcoming ICE Events

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The ICE will host an online presentation about the Teton dam failure on 23rd May 2023 at 6pm. More information about this event is available at https://www.ice.org.uk/events/latest-events/teton-dam-failure-1976.

Reservoir Safety Reform Programme Update (England)

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

An update on progress with the Reform Programme was published by Defra and the Environmental Agency on 6th April. The update can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defra-and-the-environment-agency-reservoir-safety-reform-programme-update

2023 BDS Photography Competition

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The 2023 Photography Competition is now open. Entries will close on the 25th August 2023. The prizes will be awarded at the SE Forum on the 7th September 2023. Information about the competition can be found here.

BDS members will be able to access the competition upload portal via the Members Area on the website.

ICOLD 2023 – Gothenberg, Sweden

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is still open for the 91st ICOLD Annual Meeting to be held in Gothenberg, Sweden from 11th to 15th June 2023. The BDS would like to encourage as many of its members to attend this event as possible given its European location. A full programme of events and details for registration are on the event website.

To facilitate the attendance of BDS Young Professionals at this event the BDS is delighted to be able to offer bursaries of £500 each. There are two bursaries remaining. Participants are invited to apply by emailing youngprofessionals@britishdams.org. Applications close on Friday 26th May 2023.

The BDS is compiling a list of UK attendees to the conference. For those that do register for ICOLD, please contact Rachel Davies (DaviesR@binnies.com) so that your name can be added to the list.

New Guidance Notes Issued by the Environment Agency’s National Reservoir Safety Team - England

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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

Fixed Monetary Penalties for Reservoir Managers – Scotland

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have added more offences that can result in Fixed Monetary Penalties (FMP’s) of between £300 and £1,000 to reservoir managers who fail to meet their statutory duties.

In addition to issuing FMP’s for failure to send in statutory notifications, they can now be issued for a range of other offences including failure to keep records of water levels and carry out visual inspections as instructed by a Supervising Engineer.

For more information please go to Fixed monetary penalties for reservoir managers | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

BDS Bibliography

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The BDS bibliography of British Dams has recently been updated by Paul Tedd to include relevant papers published in the proceedings of the 2022 BDS Conference, and in recent issues of Dams and Reservoirs. The latest version can be found here.

The bibliography is intended to provide sources of information on named dams, and therefore papers which do not mention any dam by name are generally not included. It is a very useful resource for reservoir engineers taking on inspections of dams new to them.

As the bibliography is in a standard Excel spreadsheet, the normal Excel search functions can be used when searching for papers on a particular dam or subject (e.g. cut-off trenches).

We would welcome feedback from the BDS members for additions, corrections and general comments – please send them to editor@britishdams.org

ICOLD 2024 – New Delhi, India – Call for Abstracts

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The 92nd Annual Meeting of ICOLD & Symposium Dams for People, Water, Environment and Development is to be held from September 29th to October 3rd, 2024 in New Delhi. The call for abstracts has now been released with a deadline of 31st December 2023. Full details are available on the event website: https://www.icold2024.org/#/home

Supervising Engineers' Forum 2023 – Call for Presentations

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The 2023 Supervising Engineers' Forum now has a confirmed date of Thursday 7th September 2023. We would like to invite the submission of synopses outlining the content for presentation by Friday 7th July 2023. We anticipate that registration for the forum will open in early July. Further details on the forum and the anticipated topic areas are available here.

BDS Prize Competition (Young Professionals’ Papers) – Entries now open

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The BDS Prize Competition for young professionals is open to BDS members under 35 years of age. The next competition will take place on 20th November 2023 at the Institution of Civil Engineers where the following prizes will be contested.

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

The submitted paper (2,500 words) will be on a topic of dam engineering relating to the author's experience in reservoir research, design, construction, operation, maintenance or supervision. Participants must be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken a significant role, relative to their level of experience, in the project or topic. There must be only one author per paper.

To Enter the Competition:

Candidates must submit a 250 word synopsis of their proposed paper together with their brief biographical details to the BDS Secretary by email (bds@ice.org.uk) by 8th September 2023.

The authors of synopses assessed as being relevant to the competition will be invited to submit their completed papers by 13th October 2023.

Further details are available on the flyer available here.

Choice of Technical Questions for the 28th ICOLD Congress (2025)

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

ICOLD have requested proposals for questions for the 2025 Congress in Chengdu, China. Please forward any suggestions to David Neeve (david.neeve@arup.com) by Friday 10th February 2023. The BDS Committee will compile and submit up to eight questions to the ICOLD organising committee. Further details and a list of previous questions are available on the ICOLD website here.

28th Annual European Working Group on Internal Erosion – Abstracts published

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The University of Sheffield hosted the 28th annual European Working Group on Internal Erosion from 18th to 21st July 2022. The abstracts from the meeting have now been published and are available to download here.

ICOLD Technical Committee D – Concrete Dams

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Experience of RCC dam design or construction? The BDS is looking for succession for the current long-standing member of the committee. Please contact David Neeve (david.neeve@arup.com) or Andrew Thompson (andrew.thompson2@uuplc.co.uk) to express your interest. The role would be supporting the current member and fully taking over the role after ICOLD in New Dehli 2024. Technical Committee D is an active group who are currently working on five bulletins. The immediate role would be supporting the production of Sustainability of Concrete Dams – Volume 1, which is due for completion during 2023. Applicants must commit to attending annual ICOLD meetings in person (funding not provided by the BDS).

Nominations for BDS Committee Members

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Invitations to stand for election onto the BDS Committee as an elected member for 2023 to 2026 are currently open. There are currently two posts available on the BDS Committee to commence immediately after the AGM in April 2023. Successful candidates are to hold office for three years and thereafter be eligible for re-election for a second three year term, after which the member shall be ineligible for re-election to the Committee until one year has elapsed (unless elected as Chair or Vice-Chair). If you are interested in joining the BDS committee and contributing further to our society, please complete the following candidate nomination form before the 1st March 2023. Should the BDS receive more nominations than the number of posts available a ballot will be held.

BDS Elected Committee Member nomination form - https://forms.office.com/r/KQX7vD4C3j

Nominations for BDS Young Professionals (YP) Steering Group

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The BDS Young Professionals (YP) Group comprises all the under-35 members of the British Dam Society (BDS). It exists to facilitate professional development opportunities for young professionals, technicians and students working in the industry.

The four main roles for the YP Steering Group include the following:

Chair - (3-year term which includes 1 year as Past YP Chair role)
Social Media (2-year term)
Events Champion (2-year term)
Mentoring Champion (2-year term)

We would like to invite nominations for any BDS Young Professional to stand for election onto the BDS YP Steering Group starting immediately after the AGM in April 2023. If you are interested in joining the BDS YP Steering Group and contributing further to our society, please complete the following YP Steering Group nomination form before the 14th April 2023. Should the BDS receive more nominations than the number of posts available a ballot will be held by the main BDS Committee and announced at the AGM in April 2023.

YP Steering Group nomination form - https://forms.office.com/r/hmQKLPFddE

Announcement of BDS Chair and Vice Chair for 2023-25

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce the new BDS Chair and Vice Chair appointments. Following our AGM on 24th April 2023, Rachel Davies of Binnies will become Chair. Dr Darren Shaw of Arup will take on the role of Vice Chair. The appointments will last for two years. We wish them every success.

Supervising Engineers Forum 2023 – Save the Date

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The 2023 Supervising Engineer Forum now has a confirmed date of Thursday 7th September 2023. The forum will return to The National Conference Centre in Birmingham (adjacent to the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull). Further details regarding the event including a call for papers and registration links will be issued in due course.

NRW Charging Scheme Consultation

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The charging scheme in Wales has been in place since 2017 and is currently open to public consultation on some of the changes proposed to the registration and notification fees. Whilst this predominantly affects undertakers in Wales, BDS members may also wish to contribute: Consultation on our regulatory fees and charges for 2023/2024.

Online Survey about Flood Hydrology Methods

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Environment Agency is conducting research to better understand how open methods could be adopted for operational flood hydrology. This includes both flood estimation for design / planning and flood forecasting. The project covers flooding from rivers, surface water, groundwater and reservoirs. The project is seeking to identify the benefits, risks and requirements for moving towards approaches that use open methods. As part of this research, the opinions and knowledge of the UK hydrological community is requested, in order to gather as many viewpoints as possible to inform recommendations. We encourage those with an interest in this area to contribute via the project survey [link - https://forms.office.com/r/iittN0mQYt]. This should take about 15 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday 28th October 2022.

21st Biennial Conference

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Last week saw 280 attendees and 12 exhibitors at our 21st Biennial conference held in Nottingham. It had been four years since the last conference in Swansea and it was fantastic to see the reservoir safety community back together again. Over the three and a half days there were 24 technical presentations, 4 site visits, 16 workshops and a packed evening social programme including the new exhibitor reception, YP Quiz and a fantastic the Geoffrey Binnie lecture by Tim Hill.

A full write up of the event will be provided in the forthcoming BDS Yearbook. For those that attended, you should shortly receive an email requesting your feedback on the conference. We encourage everyone to respond so that we can make the 2024 conference even better.