Drivers for discontinuance: a multi-disciplinary approach to feasibility assessment

The UK dams and reservoirs community is experiencing renewed public attention following the Toddbrook incident of 2019, among several other recent global incidents. In light of this, many undertakers are now seeking to limit their liabilities through a reduction in the capacity of their reservoirs. In such situations, those undertakers have a responsibility to assess the benefit of retaining their reservoirs against a broad range of considerations, and a multi-disciplinary assessment is beneficial in understanding their intrinsic value. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of reservoir discontinuance through an overview of some of the numerous – and often conflicting – constraints. Evidence is provided from optioneering workshops, feasibility studies and concept designs delivered by Arcadis for Canal & River Trust and Natural Resources Wales.