UK Act of Parliament
1975
United Kingdom
Reservoirs Act 1975
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
15 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides across 2 topics · 3 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
3 of 15 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 10 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Statutory Undertaker 10
- Any Person 2
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Statutory Undertakers also bound by 169 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Cory Decarbonisation Project Order 2025 2025 116 duties
- The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 2022 112 duties
- Water Industry Act 1991 1991 52 duties
- Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2006 44 duties
- The A47 North Tuddenham to Easton Development Consent Order 2022 2022 28 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Liability for Damage and Injury
Index of General Definitions
Registration of large raised reservoirs, and enforcement of Act, by local authorities.
2 years imprisonment- Register your large raised reservoir with the relevant authority Statutory Undertaker
Review
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency and NRW must review reservoir risk designations Statutory regulator
Appeals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Minister must provide a right of appeal against reservoir designations Crown / Minister / Government department
Periodical inspection of large raised reservoirs.
Unlimited fine- Arrange periodic inspections and implement safety measures for reservoirs Statutory Undertaker
Recording of water levels etc.
Unlimited fine- Monitor and record water levels and safety data for high-risk reservoirs Statutory Undertaker
Supervision of large raised reservoirs.
- Appoint a supervising engineer for high-risk reservoirs Statutory Undertaker
Discontinuance of large raised reservoirs.
- Employ a qualified civil engineer for reservoir alterations Statutory Undertaker
Reserve powers.
- Follow enforcement authority's engineer appointment if you fail to appoint one Statutory Undertaker
Powers of entry.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstructing access to a reservoir site Any Person
Appeals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Minister must establish a right of appeal for reservoir owners Crown / Minister / Government department
General provisions as to reports, certificates etc. of engineers.
Unlimited fine- Keep reservoir reports and send copies to the enforcement authority Statutory Undertaker
Duty of undertakers to furnish information.
- Notify the regulator before building or restarting a large reservoir Statutory Undertaker
Criminal liability of undertakers and their employees.
- Fail to register or comply with reservoir regulations Any Person
Expenses
- Pay the regulator's expenses for engineer consultations Statutory Undertaker
Reservoirs constructed before commencement of previous Act.
- Arrange first inspection of pre-1930 reservoirs Statutory Undertaker
Browse 34 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Ambit of Act and interpretation.
Consideration of risk and provisional designation: England and Wales
Designation
Meaning of “high-risk reservoir”
Reports by local authorities to, and supervisory powers of, Secretary of State.
Qualification of engineers.
Power to prescribe by regulations.
Construction or enlargement of reservoirs.
Certificates of construction engineers.
Powers of enforcement authority in event of non-compliance with requirements as to construction or enlargement of reservoirs.
Re-use of abandoned reservoirs.
Flood plans: large raised reservoirs
Flood plans: preparation
Flood plans and national security
Abandonment of large raised reservoirs.
Emergency powers.
Compensation to third parties for damage or disturbance.
Reference of disputed recommendations to referee.
Assessment of reports and statements
Power to require information
Reports
Service of notices by the Environment Agency and the NRBW
Arrangements for civil protection: charges
Continuity with previous Act.
Notification to local authorities of existing reservoirs.
Reservoirs in course of construction or alteration, or newly constructed or altered.
Large raised reservoirs not within previous Act.
Crown application
Ministerial responsibility
Repeal.
Commencement.
Short title and extent.
Large raised reservoir”: England and Wales
Where damage or injury is caused by the escape of...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Natural Resources Wales / Other permissions you may need for your abstraction or impoundment (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Regulatory statement 100: Using waste clay in slurry lagoons or irrigation reservoirs (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Understand your reservoir risk designation (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Reservoir charges (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Register your reservoir (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Know when to appoint an engineer (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Decommission a large raised reservoir (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Appoint a reservoir supervising engineer (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Forms and guidance | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (opens in a new tab) from SEPA Detailed Guidance
- Reservoirs explained - Ofwat (opens in a new tab) from Ofwat Detailed Guidance
- ... and 15 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environment Agency
PrimaryEnvironmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Natural Resources Wales
Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …
Connected legislation
3 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.