EDINBURGH, Scotland, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The Scottish Environment Protection Agency will assume responsibility over reservoir safety under the terms of a proposed law, Edinburgh said.
There are more than 1,000 reservoirs in Scotland, many of which are owned by communities or private residents.
A bill before Scottish lawmakers calls for a "proportionate level" of inspection on reservoirs near homes and national infrastructure. All reservoirs that control at least 350,000 cubic feet of water would need to be registered with the Scottish EPA, the government said.
Roseanna Cunningham, the Scottish environment minister, said Scottish communities would be better protected from floods under the proposal.
"The likelihood of any reservoir failing is extremely low but the consequences of such an event may be devastating," she said. "Where there is a risk, we need to ensure that the reservoirs are structurally sound, monitored and well-maintained to make sure any risk is minimized."
