Physical capabilities of reservoir panel engineers

Dams and reservoirs, which are subject to the Reservoirs Act 1975 (1975), are required to be inspected by a panel engineer – an ‘inspecting engineer’ – at least once every 10 years. In addition, another panel engineer, the ‘supervising engineer’, examines the dam and reservoir at least once a year and provides a written statement to the owner.

Panel engineers can act as qualified civil engineers (QCEs) overseeing works affecting safety at the dam, construction engineers (CEs) for new dams or altering the size of dams and reservoirs, and as referees.

In order to compile comprehensive reports on a...