The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 gives the Environment Agency the authority to decide whether a large raised reservoir is a high risk reservoir – that is a reservoir that we believe could endanger human life if it failed and caused an uncontrolled release of water. This ensures that in future the regulatory requirements for large raised reservoirs are based upon the potential impact of a serious failure (uncontrolled release of water). 

From October 2012, the Environment Agency will assess all current large raised reservoirs (those with a capacity greater than 25,000m3) to decide whether they are high risk.  In the future the Reservoirs Act may also apply to reservoirs between 10,000 and 25,000m3 and we will also assess these reservoirs to determine if they are high risk.

We have developed  three options for carrying out this assessment.  We welcome your views on these options to help us select the most appropriate process. 

I am involved in a Birmingham based multi-agency group looking at Risk Assessments associated with ‘High Risk’ Reservoirs in the West Midlands Conurbation.  The EA has an open Consultation regarding this matter and I would like to respond on behalf of ICPEM.  I would welcome the comments of ICPEM Members to include in my response. 

You can download an information document here

Could I ask that all comments are emailed to me at  Malcolm.parker@bhamcommunity.nhs.uk no later than Friday 17 February 2012

Malcolm Parker  BSc (Hons) FICPEM
Head of Emergency Planning & Business Continuity