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Last updated: 12 May 2010
Contingency planning for a range of risks is a key responsibility for all local responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Sir Michael Pitt, in his investigation, The Pitt Review: Lessons learned from the 2007 floods [External website], observed a lack of preparedness for a reservoir failure and made a number of recommendations for action. He advocated that Local Resilience Forums be given more information to enable them effectively to undertake planning, and to engage fully with downstream communities. He recommended that they be provided with inundation maps to enable them to assess risks and plan for contingency, warning and evacuation. He also recommended that the outline maps be made available to the public. The Government response to that review is available at here. [External PDF]
The Government recognises that a major reservoir inundation event could have a significant impact on the surrounding area. The Guidance available via this page provides information and advice for Category 1 and 2 responders under the Act, and planners more broadly, engaged in contingency planning against the risk of reservoir inundation. Separate guidance has been issued on the dissemination of maps and the timetable and funding available for this work.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) [External website] is lead department for flooding legislation, policy and regulations and for reservoir safety. The Environment Agency [External website], which reports to Defra, oversees reservoir safety and enforces the Reservoirs Act 1975. The Agency is responsible as an Enforcement Authority for some 2,000 reservoirs in England and Wales.
It is important to note that reservoir inundation preparedness activity, as outlined in the guidance and checklists, reflects current legislation and actions to be taken under the Civil Contingencies Act. This work is not directly connected to forthcoming legislation.
Defra has undertaken a consultation [External website] exercise on a new Flood and Water Management Bill. The consultation has now closed. Read the draft bill [External website] and impact assessments [External website].
New legislation may impose new duties on reservoir owners and managers. At present they are not required to fund off-site planning or warning and informing work.
The guidance linked to this page is aimed principally at local and regional resilience personnel who may become involved in planning for or responding to a reservoir inundation emergency. Further information which will be focussed on the needs of the wider community will be made available over the coming months via public-facing websites, the principal one being www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ [External website].
The guidance covers the topics listed below. Please click on each link to access the indicated document.
These documents have been amended following the consultation exercise earlier this year. Over the coming months, as the first plans are produced, we will evaluate lessons identified and amend the documents accordingly if necessary.
This document provides background information and links to a number of other sources of advice and guidance. It is particularly addressed at top tier or single tier local authority Category 1 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 but will be relevant to other Category 1 and 2 responders under the Act, and to the wider community. It will also be useful for owners and managers of reservoirs to use the guidance to complement their on-site planning work.
This guidance gives background information about the planning process for reservoir inundation. It should be read in parallel with the supplementary guidance contained in the templates. The checklist provides a summary of the information that should be included in off-site plans. A table sets out options for a plan maintenance, validation and exercise regime.
This document provides a suggested template for a generic reservoir emergency plan. It also incorporates guidance and suggested text under most of the section headings and should be used in parallel with the other guidance documents. The templates should be used flexibly and adapted to reflect local organisational structures, agreements and roles. Planners may also wish to vary, for example, the order or design of the template to reflect local practice.
This document provides a suggested template for a site-specific reservoir emergency plan for a higher priority reservoir. It was developed in consultation with local resilience planners and responders. It also incorporates guidance and suggested text under most of the section headings and should be used in parallel with the other guidance documents. The templates should be used flexibly and adapted to reflect local organisational structures, agreements and roles. Planners may also wish to vary, for example, the order or design of the template to reflect local practice.
This document outlines the policy and principles to be engaged when warning in the event of an emergency and informing the public about reservoir emergencies. It includes a template public information leaflet. Generic FAQs and suggested answers will be issued and updated via the Gateway.
For more detailed information about reservoirs, reservoir flooding, local response plans a Frequently Asked Questions document is available:
Additionally, Guidance for people living near reservoirs [External website] is also available.
From summer 2010 it will be possible to view whether an address is in an indicated inundation zone for a reservoir by searching a flood map on the Environment Agency’s website [External website].
This sets out the process for controlling and handling reservoir inundation maps to ensure that information is exchanged securely. A copy of the Protocol can be obtained by calling the Defra Flood Management Helpdesk: 020 7238 6239 or by emailing: neill.guha@defra.gsi.gov.uk
All of the above guidance has been designed to support Emergency Preparedness. Emergency Preparedness sets out how the duties under the Civil Contingencies Act – 2004 (CCA) and its supporting Regulations should be implemented. Emergency Response and Recovery focuses on practical considerations, guiding principles and good practice for effective emergency response and recovery.
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