Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with water companies on ensuring continuity of water supplies during prolonged periods of extreme heat.

Water companies in England have a statutory duty under the Water Industry Act 1991 to produce and maintain Water Resources Management Plans and Drought Plans, during in extreme heat. Companies must review and update these plans at least every five years to reflect changing conditions, including climate risks. Where additional investment is required funding proposals are considered through Ofwat’s price review process.

In the Water White Paper the Government set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards. Resilience standards will be a key tool in ensuring the water industry is resilient to shocks and pressures, ensuring customer services are protected.