Editorial review
Reviewed by the Maplify Editorial Team. Editorial policy
OpenStreetMap; Environment Agency reservoir flood mapping (separate overlay)
Reservoirs & Water Storage Map
Compare reservoir outlines with separate Environment Agency flood-risk evidence when assessing water infrastructure and downstream sites.
Verification
Compare reservoir outlines with separate Environment Agency flood-risk evidence when assessing water infrastructure and downstream sites.
How to Interpret the Map — Layer Key
Mapped reservoir extent (OSM)
Reservoir polygons from community mapping; some are used for irrigation, industry or recreation rather than drinking water.
Shaded areaReservoir flooding — separate overlay
Separate flood-scenario layer, not the footprint of a reservoir or an indication that it is unsafe.
Shaded areaWhat This Layer Shows
Maplify displays reservoirs tagged in OpenStreetMap, including landuse=reservoir or natural=water plus water=reservoir. They can serve drinking-water, irrigation, industrial, amenity or other purposes.
The separate Reservoir Flood Maps overlay concerns flood extent under reservoir-failure scenarios; it is a different dataset and does not mean the reservoir is unsafe.
Why It Matters for Your Site or Property
Reservoirs affect water resources, access, ecology, property amenity and some development screening decisions. Flood extent information can help identify where further risk evidence is needed.
Reservoir location alone gives no information about dam condition, operator, storage volume, current level, water quality or operational use.
Planning and Property Impact
If a site lies within published reservoir flood-extents, consult the current regulator guidance and commission competent flood-risk advice for the development context.
How to Interpret This Layer
- 1Select Map layers > Water Industry > Reservoirs & Storage for mapped reservoir outlines.
- 2Open Flood Risk > Reservoir Flood Maps separately to view a different planning context.
- 3Check the operator and regulator records for the reservoir concerned.
Official Data Source
Publisher
OpenStreetMap; Environment Agency reservoir flood mapping (separate overlay)
Coverage
OSM mapped reservoirs across the UK; EA reservoir flood layers cover England
Licence
OpenStreetMap ODbL for reservoir outlines; EA terms vary for flood-risk overlays
Official source
https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
Data Freshness
Planned refresh frequency
Community mapped features and regulator flood scenarios refresh independently
Important Limitations
- Community mapping is not a complete statutory reservoir inventory.
- An OSM reservoir polygon does not confirm a drinking-water reservoir or its supply catchment.
- Failure-scenario flood mapping is not a forecast or statement of reservoir safety.
Common Use Cases
Environmental consultants
Scope nearby water bodies and related habitats.
Developers
Screen reservoir proximity and review separate downstream flood mapping.
Related Layers
This layer is commonly checked alongside these related layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all the mapped reservoirs drinking-water reservoirs?
No. OSM reservoir tags describe water bodies, not necessarily their ownership or supply purpose.
Is reservoir flooding included in this layer?
Reservoir locations and reservoir flooding are separate overlays so their different meanings remain clear.
Check Reservoirs & Water Storage Map on Maplify
Open the map, generate a site report or save your search to come back to it later.
References and Methodology
Professional disclaimer
Maplify is a screening and due-diligence tool. This layer does not constitute professional advice, a planning decision, or a legal determination of any kind. Always verify critical matters with the relevant local planning authority, the data provider, or a qualified professional before relying on this information for a transaction, planning application, or development decision.