Purpose of the regulations
The
Dam Safety Regulations were introduced to ensure dams over a certain height or storage capacity are:
- well operated and maintained
- regularly monitored.
The regulations provide consistent, nationwide minimum safety standards for dams in New Zealand.
Dams affected by the regulations
The regulations apply to 'classifiable dams'. The government changed the definition of a classifiable dam in
regulation 5 of the Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022.
Dams are now classifiable if they are four or more metres in height and store 20,000 or more cubic metres of water or other fluid.
The regulations do not apply to dams that are less than four metres in height, regardless of their storage volume.
Potential Impact Classification
If your dam is classifiable, you must also find out its Potential Impact Classification (PIC) in case the dam fails. This classification assesses the impact your dam could have on:
- the community
- historical or cultural places
- critical or major infrastructure
- the natural environment.
A dam safety engineer can assess the potential impact of a dam failing. You need to include this information in your Dam Classification Certificate form. The impacts are classified as low, medium or high risk.
Responsibilities of recognised engineers
Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau is the registration authority for chartered professional engineers. It is responsible for assessing and registering recognised engineers.
Together with the
New Zealand Society on Large Dams (NZSOLD), Engineering New Zealand has developed the framework and registration process to assess recognised engineer qualifications and competencies.
Ongoing requirements for dam owners
If we approve your dam's PIC, you need to review it:
- every five years, or
- if you carry out building works that require a building consent.
This ensures dam classifications remain accurate and reflect any changes to the dam or surrounding environment.
Depending on the PIC rating, you may need to complete further requirements.
Owners of low PIC dams will have fewer requirements to meet, but those with a medium or high PIC need to complete a certified Dam Safety Assurance Programme and submit Annual Dam Compliance Certificates.
Visit
Waikato Regional Council website for the Dam Safety Assurance Programme and Annual Dam Compliance Certificate documents.
New dams
Owners of new dams have three months from commission date to register the details with us.
Dam safety register – GIS viewer
When a dam is registered with us, you can find it on our Dam Safety Regulations register.
Find a registered dam by searching:
- an address on the top search bar
- the dam name in the 'Find a dam' search bar.
Using the digital map pins, you can view:
- dam classifications
- any known statuses of the dam, such as:
- dangerous
- earthquake-prone
- flood-prone
- heritage.
More information
You can read more about the responsibilities of dam owners on:
You can also find resources for dam owners on the
Building Performance website including:
- a tool to help calculate dam volume
- templates listing the information you need to provide to regional authorities.
Existing dams registration and guide
Read our ‘Guidance for review of existing dams’ for information on how to comply with
Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022.
