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Water companies ordered to protect customer supplies as severe drought persists across parts of England

Water company chief executives were called before the National Drought Group yesterday to update on the actions they are taking to protect customer supplies after government instructed daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels.

Bosses set out measures being taken to protect customer supplies after severe drought was declared in parts of England last week, including sending less water from reservoirs into local rivers and reducing water pressure, where appropriate, overnight.  

Water companies are also speeding up leak detection and working to transfer water from elsewhere in the network to support the lowest reservoirs. These steps come after the government told water companies and the Environment Agency to put public supplies first. 

Water Minister Emma Hardy, who chaired yesterday’s meeting, said:   

Having instructed water companies to carry out daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels, while improving water quality checks, it’s right that the National Drought Group has now heard directly from water company bosses on the action they’re taking. 

It’s encouraging that these efforts are starting to ease the pressure on public supplies, but water companies must continue to step up their efforts, and we will keep holding them to account. 

While customer water supplies will not be interrupted, declaring a severe drought allowed us to ensure proactive steps are taken to safeguard water.

Although water companies remain responsible for maintaining public water supplies, we can all help by thinking about ways to use water wisely over the coming weeks.

The National Drought Group heard that while the first half of October has been dry, wet weather is also expected to spread in later this week which could help water resources. The Environment Agency has said at least 120% of average rainfall is needed over the next six months for the country to be considered out of drought by the start of spring. 

The expert group – which includes the Met Office, Government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, the Canal & River Trust, anglers, hydrologists, and conservation experts – has again urged people to use water wisely in the coming weeks and months to protect supplies and the environment.   

Last week, the Government declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex. The South East and South West have experienced their driest April to September in over a century, impacting reservoir levels in that area – particularly Ardingly in West Sussex and Wimbleball in Somerset.  

While customer supplies are uninterrupted, declaring severe drought allowed additional proactive steps to be taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs. Since then,   enhanced engagement has started with Local Resilience Forums in the severe drought areas to coordinate risk assessment and preparedness across local communities. 

The National Drought Group have been meeting regularly since August to coordinate the response to this year’s unprecedented dry weather and hold organisations to account for their actions.

The Environment Agency has stressed the need for drought plans to be translated into timely action, including quickly fixing leaks, communicating with customers about using water wisely, and submitting early applications to the government where restrictions on non-essential business use may be needed. 

• The Environment Agency has granted drought permits to South West Water and South East Water to reduce the amount of water released from its reservoirs into local rivers. (Wimbleball into the River Exe and Ardingly into the River Ouse) 
• Temporary pumps have also been put in place to help move water around the area supplied by South West Water’s Stithians reservoir in Cornwall, and Wessex Water is preparing applications for seven further drought permits, which the Environment Agency will prioritise on receipt. 
• Applications for non-essential use bans by South East Water, South West Water and Southern Water are under consideration by the Environment Secretary. 
• Fish rescue plans are being put in place in case reservoir levels fall further and action is needed to protect wildlife. 

Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy said:

The rain is welcome, but the drought is far from over. It will bring some welcome respite for farmers and the environment, but we need sustained rainfall to refill depleted reservoirs and help rivers and wildlife recover.

Water companies must act now to secure public water supplies and reduce pressure on our rivers and wildlife. The public can help too. Small changes in how we use water can make a real difference. Every drop counts.

Met Office Business Manager, John Loynd, said:

September and the first half of October continued the pattern of below-average rainfall across many parts of England, adding to existing drought pressures in some areas.

While more unsettled conditions are now affecting parts of the UK and bringing spells of rain and strong winds, it remains too early to say whether this will deliver the widespread, sustained rainfall needed to make a significant difference to the drought situation.

The Met Office will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and water companies to monitor conditions and provide the latest forecasts and climate information.

CEO of Waterwise, Nicci Russell, said:

Water is scarce in England - and we all need to make sure we waste less, at home and at work.  

There are more of us than ever before, we’re using on average more than we used to, and the climate emergency means the water isn’t always available when we need it. Nothing happens without water.