The Reservoirs Act 1975 (Capacity, Registration, Prescribed Forms, etc.) (England) Regulations 2013
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 7 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
7 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Risk assessment 1
Calculate capacity of large raised reservoir
If your business operates a large raised reservoir, you must work out how much water it can hold. Measure the total volume above the reservoir bed up to the top water level, but leave out any water that could not flow out in an uncontrolled release. Finish this calculation before the first final certificate for the reservoir is issued.
Notifications 1
Provide prescribed information to the Reservoirs Agency before building a large raised reservoir
If you plan to construct or bring back into use a large raised reservoir, you must send a notice to the Reservoirs Agency that includes all the details set out in Schedule 7. This has to be done before any construction starts, so the Agency can assess safety and compliance.
Record keeping 2
Keep prescribed water‑level records for high‑risk reservoirs
If your business owns or operates a high‑risk reservoir, you must maintain a continual record of water levels and related data in the exact format set out in Schedule 2 of the 2013 Regulations, also covering the extra items listed in Schedule 3. The record has to be kept up to date and be available for inspection.
Use prescribed form for engineer directions
If you operate a large reservoir, any written instruction from a qualified engineer – such as recording water levels, carrying out visual inspections, testing or revising flood plans, or issuing a certificate – must be produced using the specific form set out in Schedule 6 of the 2013 Regulations. You need to make sure that this exact form is used each time an engineer gives a direction.
Registration and licensing 1
Register large raised reservoirs with the Agency
If you are responsible for building a new reservoir or altering an existing one so that it becomes a large raised reservoir, you must inform the regulating Agency. You need to submit the required details within 28 days of receiving the final certificate for the work.
Reporting and filing 2
Provide reservoir engineering reports in the prescribed format
Whenever you are constructing, altering, re‑using, inspecting or abandoning a large raised reservoir, you must have an engineer produce a report using the exact template set out in Schedule 5. The report must be submitted as required by the Reservoirs Act (section 20). This ensures the regulator has the information it needs to assess safety.
Use the prescribed form for all reservoir engineer certificates
If your business owns or works on a reservoir, every certificate issued by an engineer (preliminary, interim, final, safety‑recommendation etc.) must be drawn up in the exact form set out in Schedule 4 of the Act. This makes the certificate legally valid and lets the regulator accept it as evidence of compliance.
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
16 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 10
- s.3 Calculation of capacity of a large raised reservoir
- s.4 Registration requirements
- s.6 Keeping and inspection of the English register The Agency
- s.8 Reports by the Agency to the Secretary of State large raised reservoir
- s.9 Records of water levels etc. high-risk reservoir
- s.10 Forms of certificates of engineers
- s.11 Forms of reports of engineers
- s.12 Forms of directions of engineers
- s.13 Prescribed information under section 21(1) to be provided by undertakers when intending to construct or bring back into use a large raised reservoir
- s.15 Review