What is a drought?

A drought is a shortage of water resulting from a period of low rainfall affecting people, agriculture, industry or the environment. Some droughts are short and intense while others are long and take time to develop. Every drought is different and there is no formal definition of a drought.

We need wet winters to replenish supplies in reservoirs, rivers and lakes that have been used up over the previous summer. Often, following hot, dry summers, the amount of water is very low and needs plentiful winter rainfall to replenish it. If this natural process is disrupted a drought can occur.

I have heard that there is a drought in my area. Will my water company impose water supply restrictions?

We expect all of the water companies to plan on the basis that they may occasionally need to impose restrictions on water supplies such as hosepipe bans. This usually happens during long periods of continuous dry weather or drought.

Find out which companies have announced restrictions on water supplies.

It would be too expensive for the water companies, and therefore for customers, to allow unlimited access to water all of the time. Allowing unlimited water use during long periods of very dry weather would also be damaging to the environment.

Customer research tells us that customers are prepared to live with the risk of hosepipe bans once every 10 years. It also tells us that customers are not prepared to pay more to reduce the risk of restrictions.

If there are serious shortages in a water company’s area because of very low rainfall, the company may need to introduce restrictions to reduce demand for water. This is so that the water company can make sure that its customers always have enough water for drinking, cooking and washing.

Water supply restrictions such as hosepipe bans do not necessarily mean that a water company is failing its customers.

What steps can my water company take to restrict supplies?

Your company can introduce a number of measures to help it manage its supplies following periods of prolonged dry weather or drought by restricting the ways in which you use water.

• Hosepipe bans. Your water company may introduce a hosepipe ban if it is likely to be short of water because of a drought. Your water company can prevent you from using, or restrict your use of, hosepipes and sprinklers to water your garden or wash your car. You can be fined for using a hosepipe or sprinkler when a ban is in place.
• Drought permits. A drought permit from the Environment Agency allows your water company to take additional water supplies from other sources. Drought permits also allow your water company to alter restrictions on the sources it already uses so that it can maintain an adequate supply of water.
• Drought orders. A drought order allows your water company to restrict the non-essential use of water. This includes restrictions on:
  • using hosepipes or sprinklers to water gardens, allotments, parks and recreation grounds
  • filling ornamental ponds, other than fish ponds
  • washing cars, lorries, boats, trains and aircraft for any reason other than hygiene
  • cleaning building exteriors (apart from windows)
  • operating ornamental fountains or cascades, including those that use recycled water.
• Emergency drought orders. Your water company can apply for an emergency drought order only in the most serious droughts. An emergency drought order allows your water company to limit the use of water as it sees fit. If your water company imposes an emergency drought order you will normally receive your water from a standpipe in the street or from a water bowser or tanker.

Drought orders and emergency drought orders are granted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England, and by the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales.

Research from the last major drought in 2006 shows that most customers suppported hosepipe bans. The majority said they made an effort to comply with restrictions and most also tried to take appropriate action to reduce their water usage. Those who usually used hosepipes said they were using watering cans instead, and collecting rainwater to water their gardens.

How will I know if my company is imposing restrictions?

If there is a drought your water company should use the media or other marketing campaigns to keep you informed about any restrictions.

Will my bill be lower, or can I claim compensation, because of the restrictions?

You cannot claim compensation if your water company imposes a hosepipe ban or restrictions on non-essential use, such as washing your car. This is because your water company has to plan on the basis that it may have to impose restrictions during long periods of very dry weather or drought. This means that the bills you pay already reflect the potential for restrictions.

However, you may be eligible for compensation if your water supplies are interrupted as a result of emergency drought orders and you have no water for cooking, washing, drinking and flushing the toilet.

Other than imposing restrictions, what else should my company be doing in response to the drought?

Your water company may decide to carry out a public awareness campaign to encourage customers to use water more efficiently. It may also carry out more work to reduce leakage, such as increasing its leakage budget, employing additional leakage contractors and targeting leakage in the areas most at risk. Finally, to increase its water supply, it may apply for a drought permit from the Environment Agency to abstract more water than normal from rivers.

FAQs