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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support households impacted by drought.

Defra requires water companies to have robust plans to manage droughts and protect customer supplies. This includes early actions such as enhanced leakage management, appropriate balancing of supplies, and effective communications to enable customers to use water wisely.

In the event of temporary use bans, known as hosepipe bans, being required, Defra expect water companies to protect vulnerable customers and include exceptions for certain customers groups including those on the priority services register or blue badge holders. Water companies must set out exceptions in their drought plans and should demonstrate how they will balance the need for water savings against adverse effects on customers.

Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) check water companies follow these plans appropriately when activated. Water companies must undertake an annual drought health check. During the current drier conditions, more frequent reporting is required, including through the national drought group and sub-groups convened by Defra and the EA. This helps drive active monitoring and early action to protect households from drought risks.

Defra requires water companies, through water resources management plans, to increase drought resilience and ensure resilience to 1 in 500 year drought events by 2040 without the need for emergency drought orders, including standpipes.