UK Act of Parliament
1975
United Kingdom
Reservoirs Act 1975
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
13 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides across 2 topics · 3 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
4 of 13 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 7 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 8
- 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 21 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2006 43 duties
- Water Industry Act 1991 1991 38 duties
- The Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 1995 13 duties
- The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 2000 12 duties
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 1991 11 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 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
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
Unlimited fine- Pay the regulator's expenses for engineer consultations Statutory Undertaker
Browse 35 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.
Reserve powers.
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.
Reservoirs constructed before commencement of previous Act.
Large raised reservoirs not within previous Act.
Crown application
Ministerial responsibility
Repeal.
Commencement.
Short title and extent.
Large raised reservoir”: England and Wales
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- DWI: drinking water quality (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Ofwat: sewerage undertakers (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK: environmental permits (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Environment Agency Chief Regulator's report 2024-25: supporting evidence (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Environment Agency enforcement and sanctions policy (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Reservoir Legislation in England - Basic Legal Framework (opens in a new tab) Other
- Supervising panel engineers: contact details (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Reservoir safety emergency on-site flood plans consultation (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Regulating reservoir safety in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Civil sanctions - Fixed Monetary Penalties and Variable Monetary Penalties for reservoir managers (opens in a new tab) Other
- ... and 6 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.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.