Analysis: Reservoir dams - a water-tight insurance risk?

Whaley Bridge - single use
Personnel use a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter to lower bags of aggregate to reinforce the damaged spillway of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam above the town of Whaley Bridge
Roland Harrison/AFP via Getty Images

With almost 3000 dams supplying drinking water to towns and cities they are a common feature in the UK countryside. However, when heavy rain in August threatened the integrity of the emergency spillway at Toddbrook Reservoir an emergency evacuation of nearby Whaley Bridge was conducted. This unprecedented event raised questions over what insurance does and should cover in these circumstances

The 2800 dams in the UK supply drinking water to towns and cities, as well as feeding canals, helping agriculture and facilitating fishing, sailing and water sports. But in August, heavy rainfall

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@postonline.co.uk or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.postonline.co.uk/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@postonline.co.uk to find out more.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Insurance Post? View our subscription options

Most read articles loading...

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have an Insurance Post account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here