Managing drought and the balance between water supply and demand

Water companies have a statutory duty to prepare, consult, publish and maintain water resources management plans. They also have a statutory duty to review plans annually and report any changes to the Environment Agency and government.

Companies must produce a new plan every five years, or if there is a material change, at any point during this period. The next round of plans focuses on the period from 2015 to 2040. Consultation will begin in 2013.

We provide guidance and tools to water companies to help them produce and review their plans, including:

• Water resources planning guideline: guiding principles for developing a water resources management plan
• Water resources planning guideline: technical methods and instructions
• Water resources planning guideline supply-demand workbook
• Water resources planning guideline supply-demand data
• Water resources planning guideline technical instructions for the water resources planning guideline supply-demand tables
• Water resources planning guideline - audit checklists
• Navigation tool for smaller water companies
• Annual review of water resources management plan guidance
• Annual review data template
• Benefits assessment guidance

Drought Plans

Water companies also have a statutory duty to prepare, consult, publish and maintain drought plans.

Companies must produce a new plan every three and a half years, or if there is a material change, at any point during this period. Once a drought plan is published, water companies should keep it under review and report any changes to us and Government.

We provide guidance and tools to water companies to help them produce and review their drought plans, including:

• Drought plan guideline  
  

We also provide water company drought permit application forms and reports to government on water company water resource management and drought plans.

• Available by request