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Reservoirs Act 1975

1975 c. 23 · Enacted 8 May 1975 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 15 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 25 March 2022.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 27A(7)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 110(a)(i)
s. 27A(7)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 110(a)(ii)
s. 27A(8)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 110(b)
s. 27BinsertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 90
Sch. 1words insertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 84(4)
s. 15(4)words insertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 86(1)(a)
s. 15(4)words repealedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 86(1)(b)
s. 1(4B)insertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 84(2)
s. 2(1)word substitutedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 84(3)
s. 8amendments by 2003 c. 37 s. 75 extended to ScotlandFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 87
s. 12CinsertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 89
s. 12ZAinsertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 88
s. 15amendments by 2003 c. 37 s. 75 extended to ScotlandFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 87
s. 17amendments by 2003 c. 37 s. 75 extended to ScotlandFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 87
s. 22BinsertedFlood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 s. 86(2)

An Act to make futher provision against escapes of water from large reservoirs or from lakes or lochs artificially created or enlarged.

[8th May 1975]C1C2 I1C3 C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: power to modify conferred by Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 (c. 53, SIF 81:1), s. 6(3)

C2

Act modified by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), s. 6, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 6 (with s. 45, Sch. 7 Pt. VI para. 2)

C3

Act modified (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 42, s. 25(2) (with s. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 9)

C4

Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1

C5

Act: transfer of functions (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1 (as amended (1.10.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 100(1)(6), 105(3) (with s. 100(7)); S.I. 2004/2528, art. 2(s)(i) (with Sch. paras. 7, 8) (which transitional provisions in Sch. para. 7 are revoked (1.4.2005) by S.I. 2005/968, art. 4)

Act excluded (18.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1884, art. 38

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 29(1); Act wholly in force at 1.4.1987.

Contents

  1. Operation of Act, and administration
  2. A1Large raised reservoir”: England and Wales
  3. 1Ambit of Act and interpretation.
  4. 2Registration of large raised reservoirs, and enforcement of Act, by local authorities.
  5. 2AConsideration of risk and provisional designation: England and Wales
  6. 2BDesignation
  7. 2CMeaning of “high-risk reservoir”
  8. 2DReview
  9. 2EAppeals
  10. 3Reports by local authorities to, and supervisory powers of, Secretary of State.
  11. 4Qualification of engineers.
  12. 5Power to prescribe by regulations.
  13. New, enlarged and restored reservoirs
  14. 6Construction or enlargement of reservoirs.
  15. 7Certificates of construction engineers.
  16. 8Powers of enforcement authority in event of non-compliance with requirements as to construction or enlargement of reservoirs.
  17. 9Re-use of abandoned reservoirs.
  18. Inspections
  19. 10Periodical inspection of large raised reservoirs.
  20. Monitoring and supervision
  21. 11Recording of water levels etc.
  22. 12Supervision of large raised reservoirs.
  23. Flooding
  24. 12AFlood plans: large raised reservoirs
  25. 12AAFlood plans: preparation
  26. 12BFlood plans and national security
  27. Discontinuance or abandonment
  28. 13Discontinuance of large raised reservoirs.
  29. 14Abandonment of large raised reservoirs.
  30. Additional powers of enforcement authority
  31. 15Reserve powers.
  32. 16Emergency powers.
  33. 17Powers of entry.
  34. 18Compensation to third parties for damage or disturbance.
  35. Supplementary
  36. 19Reference of disputed recommendations to referee.
  37. 19AAppeals
  38. 20General provisions as to reports, certificates etc. of engineers.
  39. 20AAssessment of reports and statements
  40. 21Duty of undertakers to furnish information.
  41. 21APower to require information
  42. 21BReports
  43. 22Criminal liability of undertakers and their employees.
  44. 22AService of notices by the Environment Agency and the NRBW
  45. 22CExpenses
  46. 22DArrangements for civil protection: charges
  47. Transitional and temporary provisions
  48. 23Continuity with previous Act.
  49. 24Notification to local authorities of existing reservoirs.
  50. 25Reservoirs in course of construction or alteration, or newly constructed or altered.
  51. 26Reservoirs constructed before commencement of previous Act.
  52. 27Large raised reservoirs not within previous Act.
  53. Crown application
  54. 27ACrown application
  55. 27CMinisterial responsibility
  56. Repeal, commencement etc.
  57. 28Repeal.
  58. 29Commencement.
  59. 30Short title and extent.
  60. Schedule 1Index of General Definitions
  61. Schedule 2Liability for Damage and Injury