Whaley Bridge: How well was the dam maintained?
Dr Panagiotis Michalis has been researching dams since 2010 and has assessed several in the UK as part of consultancy work through the University of Strathclyde.
"Back then their design standards didn't take into account future climatic conditions that are happening now, so they have an outdated design.""Vegetation is an issue in dams, especially if this vegetation is coming out of concrete panels like the ones of this particular dam," he said. "The water level fluctuations of the reservoir have a significant impact on the deformation of these dams."This photo shows vegetation growing through the side of the auxiliary spillway, which has since collapsed
The BBC spoke to two people who live near the dam, both of whom said they had been concerned for years about the condition of the structure. "The potentially extended presence of high water pressure for a long enough time may lead to seepage through very small soil openings," he said.However, he thinks the collapse is more likely to have been caused by"hydraulic destabilisation of the spillway's surface".
"This includes regular, detailed 10-yearly inspections carried out by an independent Panel Engineer and CRT Supervising Engineer," it said in a statement.
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