Abstract

On average, there are three to four major dam incidents or accidents in the UK every year. It was reported in ‘New Civil Engineer’ (NCE) by reservoir engineers ‘that as many as four dams and reservoirs could be at risk from bursting every year’ (Anon, 2002). The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 provides a framework for organisations and authorities who plan for emergencies. It explains how these agencies should work together and identifies which organisations are responsible for responding to emergencies. However, it may be surprising to know that reservoir incidents and the potential consequences are rarely clearly understood among these agencies. How prepared are we for a major reservoir emergency? This paper will provide an overview of the emergency planning guidance relating to dams and reservoirs. It will discuss the requirement for ‘on-site’ and ‘off-site’ emergency plans and explains how Dwr Cymru Welsh Water are building and testing their own plans and the lessons learnt. General emergency planning legislation will be discussed. It will conclude with the ways in which engineers, undertakers, emergency planners and response organisations can work together effectively to develop emergency plans.

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