Water Retaining Facilities Ordinance (WRFO) (WRFO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Definitions
(Art. 3 WRFA) 1 A water retaining facility comprises: a. a dam; b. the associated reservoir; c. safety-relevant auxiliary installations. 2 Dams may take the following form: a. concrete or masonry dams; b. embankment dams; c. river impoundments with their side embankments. 3 A reservoir is a lake that is artificially formed by dams. 4 The reservoir volume is the volume of water in a water retaining facility that could be released in the event of a total collapse of the dam when the reservoir is full. 5 The storage height of a water retaining facility is the height of water impounded by the highest dam when the reservoir is full. 6 Safety-relevant auxiliary installations are structures and equipment installed on the reservoir and dam that are required for the safe operation of a water retaining facility, in particular relief and outlet works. 7 The operator of a water retaining facility is the holder of the licence to put the facility into operation.
Art. 2 Water retaining facilities with particular risk potential
(Art. 2 para. 2 let. a WRFA) 1 A particular risk potential is deemed to exist if the collapse of a dam could endanger human lives and/or result in extensive property damage. 2 The relevant cantonal authorities shall notify the federal supervisory authority (Swiss Federal Office of Energy, SFOE) about water retaining facilities which, in view of their size, are not governed by the provisions of the WRFA, but which could have a particular risk potential. 3 Operators of such facilities are obliged to provide the SFOE with all the documentation that is required for performing its assessment. 4 Before it makes its decision, the SFOE shall consult the other cantons concerned.
Art. 3 Water retaining facilities without a particular risk potential
(Art. 2 para. 2 let. b WRFA) 1 When submitting their application to exempt their water retaining facility from the scope of application of the WRFA, operators must submit all documentation that is required for assessing the risk potential. 2 Before it makes its decision, the SFOE shall consult the cantons concerned.
Art. 4 Water retaining facilities on bodies of water bordering neighbouring countries
(Art. 4 WRFA) 1 The SFOE shall exercise direct supervision over water retaining facilities on bodies of water bordering neighbouring countries. 2 It shall specify the safety requirements for the construction and operation of water retaining facilities on bodies of water bordering neighbouring countries case-by-case, in particular to manage the hazards arising from: a. the collapse of a dam; b. hydropeaking in the reservoir or downstream; c. damage to the waterways. 3 It shall perform its duties in cooperation with the competent foreign supervisory authorities. The SFOE shall, as far as possible, comply with the provisions of Swiss legislation on water retaining facilities; in any case, it shall ensure an equivalent level of safety.