Ministry of Water Resources: Accelerate Construction of Dam Safety Monitoring Facilities​

On March 29, the Ministry of Water Resources announced that, in line with the spirit of the National Water Resources Work Conference and the goals of "zero casualties, no dam collapses, no breaches of key embankments, and no damage to critical infrastructure," it has issued a notice to ensure the safe operation of reservoirs during the 2024 flood season.

1. Improve the Safety Responsibility System for Reservoir Dams

Provincial water resources departments and river basin management agencies must strictly implement the Regulations on the Safety Management of Reservoir Damsand the Notice on Assigning Safety Responsibility for Reservoir Dams in 2024. They must establish a responsibility system centered on the administrative leadership of local governments, clarifying the roles of government officials, reservoir supervisory departments, and reservoir management units. Government officials are responsible for overseeing dam safety and addressing major issues; supervisory departments must ensure safety measures are implemented; and management units must handle daily operations, maintenance, and compliance with dispatch orders to guarantee safe operation.

2. Implement the "Three Responsibilities" System for Small Reservoirs

Provincial water resources departments must fully assign administrative, technical, and inspection responsibilities for flood prevention at all small reservoirs, as outlined in the Handbook for Fulfilling the "Three Responsibilities" for Small Reservoir Flood Prevention (Trial)and the Guidelines for the "Three Key Tasks" in Small Reservoir Flood Prevention (Trial). Responsible personnel must complete online training via the Ministry’s Operation and Management Department website (yxgl.mwr.gov.cn) to enhance safety awareness and ensure readiness during the flood season. The Ministry will update training materials as needed.

•Administrative officials must coordinate emergency responses and evacuations during crises.

•Technical personnel must provide guidance, update information, and verify reservoir records.

•Inspection personnel must conduct patrols, report risks promptly, and ensure timely responses.

3. Ensure Safe Flood Season Operations for Unsound Reservoirs

Provincial and basin authorities must assess reservoir conditions and implement restricted-use measures for unsound reservoirs. As per the Urgent Notice on Ensuring Reservoir Safety During Flood Season, unsound reservoirs should generally remain empty during the main flood season. Project owners must prioritize safety in reinforcement projects, develop flood response plans, and prepare for emergencies.

4. Strengthen Reservoir Safety Management

Provincial water administrative departments and river basin management agencies shall improve pre-flood inspection mechanisms, and strengthen the investigation and rectification of potential hazards in key parts such as reservoir dams, spillways, and emptying facilities. They shall enhance the prevention and control of dike-damaging animals such as termites, and realize the institutionalization, professionalization and regularization of prevention and control work. They shall improve the reservoir operation regulations (plans) and dam safety management (flood control) emergency plans for each reservoir, strictly perform approval and filing procedures, strengthen training and simulation drills, and effectively improve pertinence and operability. They shall accelerate the construction of rainfall and water regime monitoring facilities and dam safety monitoring facilities for small reservoirs, vigorously promote the construction of monitoring platforms, strengthen the collection and application of monitoring information, and improve the level of reservoir monitoring and early warning.They shall gradually improve reservoir flood control management facilities such as transportation, communication, alarm and lighting, continuously enhance reservoir safety management capabilities, and provide basic guarantees for the safe flood season of reservoirs.

5. Implement Emergency Response Measures

Real-time rainfall and flood warnings must reach frontline personnel, reservoir managers, and responsible officials. Patrols and monitoring must intensify during extreme weather, with immediate reporting and downstream alerts if risks arise. Emergency teams and supplies must be ready to address overtopping, landslides, cracks, leaks, or piping. Reservoirs should prepare for extreme floods with measures like auxiliary spillways or temporary channels to prevent collapses.

6. Enhance Reservoir Capacity Management

Per the Guidelines on Strengthening Reservoir Capacity Management, authorities must assess sedimentation and encroachment, recalculate storage curves, and rectify issues to ensure reservoirs operate safely and efficiently.

7. Improve Information Reporting

Progress on flood preparedness must be updated via the National Reservoir Operation Management Information System. Key deadlines:

•April 30, 2024: Assign all dam safety and "three responsibility" personnel.

•May 31, 2024: Complete training, unsound reservoir measures, and emergency plan approvals.

•June 30, 2024: Finalize storage curve reviews for large/medium flood-control reservoirs.

Provincial and basin agencies must enforce oversight and meet deadlines. The Ministry will conduct inspections and audits, publicly reporting progress. Dam overtopping or collapse incidents will be rigorously investigated per the Opinions on Investigating Reservoir Safety Failures, with accountability enforced.

Source: China News Network