The Environment Agency has launched a new consultation on the water companies’ drought plan guideline published earlier this week.
The water company drought plan guideline (WC DPG) sets out what companies must and should include in their statutory drought management plans. The plans focus on the things that companies plan to do to maintain water supply and protect the environment from their operations during a drought.
The WC DPG has been updated to ensure that all technical information is up to date and that lessons learnt from recent research and experience of drought has been incorporated. The updated draft has been reviewed internally within the Environment Agency but the Agency feels it is important to consult with the organisations and individuals affected by the guideline, eg water companies, the general public.
Key questions the Environment Agency is asking in the consultation are as follows:
1. Will the technical changes to this drought plan guideline allow a water company to adequately plan for a drought to maintain supplies to its customers and protect the environment? If not, what changes need to be made to allow a company to achieve this?
2. Are there any other plans and processes that are relevant to drought plans that companies should consider.
3. Does the guidance strikes the right balance between planning for events more severe than those on the historical record and planning for droughts that you might reasonably expect to experience?
4. Are there any other supply or demand management actions that water companies should consider.
5. Is the information required for drought orders and permits appropriate? If not what changes are needed?
6. Will the guidance on environmental impacts allow for sufficient protection of the environment during a drought?
7. Will the guidance on environmental monitoring before, during and after a drought allow the water companies to assess the impact of their drought actions on the environment? If not how could it be
8. Will the guidance on communications planning allow water companies to keep their customers informed during a drought? Is there any additional information water companies should consider?
The Agency will use the responses to assess the suitability of the changes proposed and to understand stakeholders views - where appropriate these might be used to make further changes to the guideline before publication or provide information on how the Agency can provide better regulation for water company drought management plans through the next planning cycle.
The consultation is only running for a short period to ensure that the water companies have a suitable guideline in time for producing their next set of drought plans.
Deadline for responses to the consultation is 31st August – click here to access the consultation online.
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