Ground risk management of a major portfolio of embankment dams in the UK

United Utilities is one of the largest dam owners in the UK with over 150 embankment dams, typically built between the 1850s to late 1890s. The majority fall under the auspices of the 1975 Reservoir Act and undergo regular inspections by qualified supervising and inspecting engineers. These identify works required in the interest of safety. In addition United Utilities will take the opportunity to upgrade its assets to meet modern design standards and bring them in line with current standards and best practice. In order to prioritise remedial works and upgrades to comply with contemporary requirements, United Utilites has been at the forefront of the development of risk assessment techniques to manage its assets on the basis of risk assessment. This paper will describe the development and application of these techniques to assist United Utilities in rationalising its asset management Plan investment decisions. It also describes some new cost- and environmentally-efficient investigation and design approaches developed and adopted in recent years to improve these assets.