1. Reservoirs – Emergency Planning Workshop Image courtesy of HR Wallingford

2.  Introductions / Housekeeping Aims:  Clarify the responsibilities of reservoir undertakers in emergency situations  Present the generic off site planning arrangements  Gain your input as to how on site and off site planning arrangements can be further linked to enhance emergency response, and better understand your constraints Impact of failure – scene setting clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIeNM8cm6J8 Workshop Overview

6. Sussex Reservoirs - Risk Overview West Sussex A – 5 B – 6 C – 11 D – 4 Unknown - 5 Total: 31 Grand total = 56 East Sussex A – 6 B – 4 C – 11 D – 2 Unknown - 2 Total: 25

7. Legislation The failures of two dams in Scotland and Wales in 1925, where 20 people were killed, led to the Reservoir (Safety Provisions) Act being passed in 1930. This was superseded by the Reservoirs Act 1975. The Acts made it a legal requirement for operators and owners to have their dams regularly inspected and repaired by government appointed experts. Since 1930, when the legislation was introduced, there have been no dam failures involving loss of life in the UK.

8. What are the risks? The risk of dam failure is likely to increase because of more extreme weather with climate change and ageing reservoirs. The average age of dams in the UK is 110 years. About 80% of the dams across England and Wales are made of clay and earth. The oldest dams were built in the 12th century, and many were built during the Victorian era.

14. Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Reducing the capacity at which a reservoir will be regulated from 25,000m3 to 10,000m3; Ensuring that only those reservoirs assessed as a higher risk are subject to regulation All undertakers with reservoirs over 10,000m3 must register their reservoirs with the Environment Agency Inspecting engineers must provide a report on their inspection within 6 months All undertakers must prepare a reservoir flood plan All incidents at reservoirs must be reported

15. On-Site Flood Plans Prepared by the undertaker, this sets out what they will do in an emergency to try to contain and limit the effects of the incident. It will include a plan for communicating with external organisations, mainly the emergency services.

16. Response to a reservoir emergency Assess Undertaker to assess the reservoir and to contact the SE or IE Plan Response Refer to Reservoir Flood Maps Refer to existing on site and off site plans Take Action For Minor Incidents contact the EA Incident 0800 80 70 60 For more serious incidents inform the Police !Important! - under no circumstances should any work be undertaken on the reservoir without advice from, and supervision by, an inspecting engineer.

17. Support on offer:  Defra – on site templates  Existing plans – Crawley Borough Council  EA – Reservoir Safety Team / Local Team  Local Authority Emergency Planners

18. Statutory Duties: The Generic Off site plan

19.  Based on DEFRA template / guidance  Overview of links to other plans  Mapping: Reservoir Inundation Zones  Activation – via Police. Will inform EA / LA  Roles and responsibilities  Warning and informing – key messages Off site plan – key elements

21.  Awareness of flood extent information Dec ‘10  Contacting undertakers / supervising engineers, gaining early expert advice on actions & options  Understanding downstream impacts  Warning and informing communities  Media management (with you)  Cross border impacts – reservoirs in Kent / Hants Our challenges:

22.  Key considerations on your tables  Please feedback in 30 minutes  How do we improve on / off site linkages?  What constraints do you have?  What do you need from SRF partners? Break out session – On / Off site plans

23.  Comments on the SRF Offsite plan by end September please  Please share on site plans / contact information with us  Updated plan / key workshop findings circulated by end October  Desktop exercise in 2013  Contact us if you have any questions or need assistance in developing plans  THANK YOU! Next steps:

24. Defra support available On-site emergency plans: prepared by reservoir owners Templates and guidance for on-site emergency plans: Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies (PDF 240 KB)Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies On-site Plan for Reservoir Dam Incidents Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies (PDF 360 KB)Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies Appendix A (PDF 60 KB) Word version (110 KB) – template for On- site PlanAppendix AWord version Appendix B (PDF 620 KB) – sample On-site Plan, single reservoirAppendix B Appendix C (PDF 320 KB) – sample On-site Plan, owner of large number of reservoirsAppendix C http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/flood-emergency- preparedness/