Ofwat's engagement on company drought plans

Drought plans are an essential part of a water company’s duty to deliver secure, reliable, sustainable, and affordable supplies of water. They set out the actions companies will take during drought conditions to maintain planned levels of service for customers, while protecting the environment as far as possible.

Water company drought plans are therefore an important part of a company’s water management, which complements the current water resources management plans for 2024 (WRMP24). Together, they support long-term resilience by ensuring companies have clear operational plans and communication strategies to respond effectively during drought.

As a statutory consultee, Ofwat reviews each company’s draft drought plan to ensure it aligns with their duties to customers and the environment. This page contains the responses Ofwat has provided to companies, including NAVs (new appointments and variations), as part of the statutory consultation on their draft drought plans. We publish our feedback as part of our commitment to transparency and our role in ensuring companies deliver outcomes for customers and the environment.

Ofwat’s response to English company draft drought plan 2027 consultation

Ofwat’s response to Welsh company draft drought plan 2025 consultation

Ofwat’s response to NAV drought plans