Regulations affecting reservoirs
Many sites that fall under the existing
reservoir safety legislation (Reservoirs Act 1975) as well as the
new Reservoirs (Scotland) 2011 Act are also regulated under the
Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003
(WEWS).
WEWS gave Scottish ministers power to
introduce regulatory controls over activities in order to protect
and improve Scotland’s water environment. These regulatory
controls are the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)
(Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR). To find out more
information on WEWS and CAR please visit our water regulations page.
Impoundments, as defined in the Water
Environment and Water Services Act, are dams, weirs or other works
by which water may be impounded. From 1 April 2006, a CAR
authorisation has been required to undertake the impounding of
rivers, lochs, wetlands and transitional waters. This
requirement also exists for structures which were in place prior to
1 April 2006.
The Water
Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations
2005: A practical guide 
(6Mb), provides more
information on CAR and the different levels of CAR authorisation
which is required for impoundments.
If you require a CAR authorisation application
form and accompanying guidance documents please click here.
If you are the Manager or Undertaker or a
reservoir and would like more information on how these regulations
may affect you, please contact your
local SEPA office.