Impact of the Controlled Activities Regulations on Dam Construction, Maintenance and Operation in Scotland

Regulatory pressure is being increasingly focused on engineering activities under the cover of the Water Framework Directive. Consideration of the environment and social impacts of what reservoir engineers and owners do in the future will play an important part in the management of our reservoir stock. From April 2006 all activities in or near the water environment in Scotland will be controlled under the Controlled Activities Regulations with the exception of very minor work with low risk to the environement. This new regime will form an important consideration for resevoir owners, inspecting engineers, consultants and contractors and is likely to have a significant effect on the way engineering works are prescribed and implemented in the future. This paper provies a practitioner's view of the new regulations highlighting the potential effects owners. this paper outlines the new regulatory framework and explores the impact on existing and future engineering activities in relation to reservoir works. Two recent case studies illustrate the potential impact drawing on practical experience from the hydro power industry, reservoir owners and engineering works.

• Introduction

• Background

• Regulatory Framework

• Impact of Car

• Examples

• Future Role of Reservoir Engineers

• Conclusions

• Acknowledgements

• References