South Staffs Water Drought Plan
The past few years have seen a series of very dry summers and winters across much of England and Wales. At South Staffs Water we are proud of our record of not having a hosepipe ban since the drought of 1976. However, we still recognise the importance of managing these extreme events and minimising the impact of water abstraction on the environment.
The Company’s Drought Plan sets out how we will manage our water resources during future dry years in order to ensure that essential public water supplies are maintained.
The Drought Plan identifies the supply and demand management options available to the Company, and the triggers for different levels of action. In addition, the plan sets out how we will minimise the environmental impact of our actions, and how we will communicate with our customers and our regulators during a drought.
South Staffs Water's draft drought plan was published on the Company’s website in April 2006, and a wide-ranging consultation exercise was undertaken. The Company has taken on board all the comments from the stakeholders who responded and we have amended the final plan accordingly. The final plan was then submitted to DEFRA for approval.
We are pleased to inform you that the Secretary of State (DEFRA) has reviewed our final drought plan and has confirmed that the plan meets the required standards, and can now be published.
The plan has been published on this website (on 31st January 2008), however we would also be happy to provide an electronic or a paper copy directly if required. Please contact Matt Hudson (Water Resources Manager) on 01922 638282 or via email at matthewhudson@south-staffs-water.co.uk for further details.
The drought plan has been published in its entirety, and no information needs to be excluded on the grounds of national security or commercial confidentiality.
Drought plans are considered to be live documents and water companies are required to review their final plans if there has been a material change in circumstances. Where circumstances remain unchanged, then the drought planning cycle starts again once the final drought plan is published. Within 3 years and 6 months of the final publication date a revised draft drought plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State, and the drought planning cycle will begin again.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your comments and input to the plan.