Chasewater’s main (eastern) dam is over 210 years old, and was built when people’s understanding about how dams work was not as advanced as it is now. If we were building Chasewater dam today, we’d use different materials and designs that incorporate the latest safety features.
Our engineers regularly inspect the condition of the eastern dam and reservoir, and have identified where and how improvements need to be made.
There is a very low risk of the dam failing, and by carrying out the works, and maintaining a programme of proper maintenance, we can help to drastically reduce the chances of the dam failing. That said, it’s important to remember that, like any structure, no reservoir is ever completely safe. This is because events like major storms, mining subsidence or earthquakes can always affect the strength of a dam.
Our engineers have told us we need to complete two pieces of work. Find out full details about the work we will be carrying out.
