The actions we take to manage our water supplies should minimise the impact of drought conditions. We will also ask you to help us – for example, by using less water in your homes, gardens, and outdoor spaces or by reporting any leaks you see in your local area, so that we can fix them quickly.

If a dry spell goes on for a long time, we will consider introducing tougher restrictions to help us manage the demand for water, which would be the result of a particular drought trigger being reached. We would make any decision to introduce restrictions in consultation with the Environment Agency and with Severn Trent Water. This is so we can be sure our messages are communicated in a consistent way across the region.

• Hydrological data, which is data about water systems within an area or region
• Data from the Met Office about changes in prevailing weather conditions
• Data on groundwater levels, water recharge and storage.

Our reservoir levels are the main indicator of drought conditions. They help to guide the actions we take to maintain your water supplies. But we also look at river flow and rainfall patterns.

• Using a hosepipe to water a garden, water plants or to wash a car 
• Using a hosepipe for recreational use, or to fill a garden pond
• Using a hosepipe to clean paths, patios or other artificial outdoor surfaces
• Using a hosepipe to clean the walls or windows of household premises
• Using a hosepipe to clean private leisure boats or caravans
• Filling or maintaining a swimming pool or paddling pool
• Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain.

A temporary use ban would affect different people in different ways. We make a number of standard exemptions to the ban, such as for Blue Badge holders, and can make further standard exemptions for specific activities, for example if there is a need to maintain a pond that contains fish.

We would follow a strict process and timetable when introducing a temporary use ban. This is because we know it can have a far-reaching effect on customers. The aim is to make sure we communicate every stage of the process clearly, so that customers understand what is happening.

We understand how important it is to keep you informed before, during and after a drought. We will use all the communications channels available to us, including:

• Our website and social media
• TV and radio
• Newspapers

How frequently we would communicate with you would depend on the urgency of the situation. We would always aim to:

• Make you aware of the developing situation
• Make you aware of the measures we are planning to put in place and how they will affect you
• Raise awareness of the need to reduce water demand and to use water wisely.

The actions we take to manage our water supplies should minimise the impact of drought conditions. We will also ask you to help us – for example, by using less water in your homes, gardens, and outdoor spaces or by reporting any leaks you see in your local area, so that we can fix them quickly.

If a dry spell goes on for a long time, we will consider introducing tougher restrictions to help us manage the demand for water, which would be the result of a particular drought trigger being reached. We would make any decision to introduce restrictions in consultation with the Environment Agency and with Severn Trent Water. This is so we can be sure our messages are communicated in a consistent way across the region.

• We regularly monitor rainfall levels against historic records. We also collect data each week on the levels of moisture in the soil and rainfall data from the Met Office
• We record how much water we take from the environment and put into our supply network
• We collect data each day on our operations at Blithfield Reservoir and continuously measure water levels at Chelmarsh Reservoir
• We monitor long-term groundwater trends each month
• We review data on river flows from the Environment Agency each day. This helps us to manage the volume of water we take from the River Blithe and River Trent
• We review data from the Environment Agency on the Clywedog Reservoir and Lake Vyrnwy
• We review data from the Environment Agency on water flows and ecology as required
• We carry out additional monitoring at key operational sites as required.

Although there are many factors that have increased our water use over time, it is important that everyone plays their part and uses water wisely. Find out how you can save water at home, in the garden, and at work.