Southern Water’s Drought Plan sets out how we would deal with a drought in Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The last plan was published in 2008 and is being updated following the approval of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 by Parliament.
We prepared a Draft Drought Plan in 2011 and carried out an eight-week public consultation on this in February and March this year.
The plan shows how we would use ‘drought triggers’ which are based on rain, soil moisture, groundwater levels, river flows and reservoir levels.
It also includes new legislation which allows water companies to introduce temporary restrictions when resources are under pressure.
Temporary bans can include restrictions on using hosepipes and sprinklers to wash cars, watering gardens and allotments, filling swimming pools and washing patios.
In severe droughts, we can also apply for drought permits and orders to take more water from rivers and underground aquifers and further limit what we use water for.
Following public consultation on the plan, we have considered all the responses and published a Statement of Response.
We will now update the Draft Drought Plan with these responses and submit our final plan for Defra to approve for publication.
Download our draft Drought Plan and Statement of Response below:
Draft Drought Plan - Statement of Response
Draft Drought Plan - Statement of Response appendices
Draft Drought Plan 2011 - main report
Draft Drought Plan 2011 - appendices
Draft Drought Plan 2011 - non-technical summary
Strategic Environment Assesment - non-technical summary
Draft Drought Plan 2011 - customer leaflet
