"Reservoir safety is vital to protect the public” – Minister O’Dowd

Date published: 17 October 2024

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has welcomed the approval of a reservoir safety framework by the Executive today.

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The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) can now bring the five necessary pieces of secondary legislation into operation to establish a framework for controlled reservoirs under the Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (the Act).  

The Act places responsibility for safety on reservoir managers. And applies to controlled reservoirs, which are capable of holding 10,000 cubic metres or above – equivalent to at least 4 Olympic size swimming pools.  Reservoir managers will register their reservoirs and appoint specialist engineers to help to inform them of any matters in the interest of safety which they will need to address. It also gives DfI the ability to develop a grant scheme to help with some associated costs.

Minister O’Dowd said:

“My Department is currently aware of 176 potential controlled reservoirs in the North. This legislation will regulate the safety of reservoir structures. Preventing the risk to life, property, the environment, the economy and areas of cultural heritage from a catastrophic flood due to reservoir failure.

“I recognise the concerns raised by some during the consultation process, and initial costs will be incurred for supervision and inspection by specialised engineers.  This initial inspection process is needed to assess the condition of the reservoir and identify matters in the interest of safety.

“However, I can reassure reservoir owners that I intend to introduce a grant scheme for those who need it, assisting reservoir managers to meet their obligations under the Act.”

Notes to editors: 

  1. The Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 received Royal Assent on 24 July 2015 with statutory responsibility for the legislative framework for reservoir safety provided by the Act transferring to DfI from DAERA with effect from 2 June 2021.The purpose of the Act is to mitigate the risk of flooding from an uncontrolled release of water due to reservoir failure. The Act is a sizeable piece of legislation containing 132 sections and 4 schedules and places responsibility for reservoir safety on reservoir managers.
  2. An eight-week targeted consultation commenced in November 2021 which included this secondary legislation that the Department proposes to make to introduce the key elements of the reservoir safety regime envisaged by the Act.
  3. Provision of a grant scheme will be subject to budget availability and normal protocols.
  4. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
  5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
  6. Follow us on X formerly Twitter at @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at DfILinkedIn

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