There are currently some 678 large raised reservoirs (reservoirs holding or capable of holding more than 25,000 cubic metres of water above natural ground level) in Scotland. Policy on ensuring that reservoirs operate safely and are properly managed is extremely important and is a matter for the Scottish Ministers, with the Reservoirs Act 1975 in place to minimise and reduce risk.
The Act provides the legal framework for ensuring reservoir safety, with the regulation and enforcement of the Act being the responsibility of local authorities. The cornerstone of reservoir operational safety is the inspection and reporting of this by an Inspecting Engineer at least every ten years, and that any recommendations made are implemented.
Local authorities as the Enforcement Authority have duties under the Act to maintain a register of all large raised reservoirs, to enforce the measures stipulated in the Act, and to report on them to the Scottish Ministers biennially. Primary responsibility for reservoir safety, however, lies with the undertakers. There are several terms with specific meaning used in the Act, these can be defined:
Large raised reservoir - a reservoir designed to hold or capable of holding more than 25,000 cubic metres of water above natural ground level.
Enforcement Authority - Within Scotland, each 32 Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the Reservoirs Act 1975.
Undertaker - The operator, user and or owner of the reservoir. Undertakers have ultimate responsibility for the safety of their reservoirs.
Supervising Engineer - Supervises the operation and maintenance of the reservoir - the "eyes and ears" of the undertaker.
Inspecting Engineer - Appointed to inspect the reservoir every ten years or more frequently if necessary, identify and make recommendations to be taken in the interest of safety when appropriate.