All water companies are required to produce 25 year water resource management plans (WRMPs) every five years.
Once the consultation period for the draft plan closes, each water company then produces a Statement of Response together with the final WRMP.
Draft plans are now being published for comment, with final WRMPs to be published in 2019.
The overwhelming majority of NFU members rely wholly or partially on mains water supply to meet their domestic and/or ‘general purpose’ business needs such as cleaning processes and livestock drinking. Some horticultural producers, particularly those growing salads and fruit, rely on mains water for its quality and security of supply.
The NFU has submitted comments to Defra, the water industry regulator Ofwat, and the Environment Agency relating to draft plans published by:
- Affinity Water - read the NFU's response here
- Anglian Water - read the NFU's response here
- Cambridge Water - read the NFU's response here
- Essex & Suffolk Water - read the NFU's response here
We favour the introduction of compulsory household metering in areas where water resources are under stress to the point of full cost/benefit justification, and as soon as practical, alongside improved tariffs and measures to protect those on low incomes
We have been keen to ensure that plans contain water efficiency measures to encourage and incentivise engagement and action between the water companies and customers on water usage
And we want plans to recognise the importance of leakage reduction plans that take full account of environmental costs and benefits, and fully achieve sustainable economic levels as quickly as possible
In particular, we want plans to look beyond their current focus on public water supplies, mainly for domestic consumption; we have asked for future plans to acknowledge the needs of other water users such as farming, and to consider how best we can drive forward efficiency and optimise water use as part of a multi-sector approach.