DRAFT DROUGHT PLAN 2022 Prepared April 2021 for consultation 1 Draft Drought Plan 2022 Essex & Suffolk Water EXCLUSIONS ON THE GROUNDS OF NATIONAL SECURITY Northumbrian Water Limited has not excluded any information from this plan on the grounds that the information would be contrary to the interests of national security. Under Section 37B(10)(b) of the Water Industry Act 1991, as amended by the Water Act 2003 (“the Act”), the Secretary of State can direct the company to exclude any information from the published Plan on the grounds that it appears to him that its publication would be contrary to the interests of national security. Draft Drought Plan 2022 Essex & Suffolk Water DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET Report Title Draft Drought Plan 2022 Authors NWG Water Resources Team Previous Essex & Suffolk Water Drought Plan (2018) Issues Essex & Suffolk Water Drought Plan (2013) Essex & Suffolk Water Drought Plan (2011) Essex & Suffolk Water Drought Plan (2007) Distribution Internal: Applicable Management & Affected Depts List External: As per Drought Plan Guideline Web: www.nwg.co.uk/droughtplan DOCUMENT CHANGE RECORD Release Date Version Report Status Change Details 31/03/2021 1 Draft N/A - first draft DOCUMENT SIGNOFF Nature of Signoff Person Date Role Reviewed by Martin Lunn 31/03/21 Head of Water Service Planning Approved by Keith Haslett 31/03/21 Water Director Essex & Suffolk Water is a trading division of Northumbrian Water Limited which is a group company of Northumbrian Water Group Registered in England & Wales No. 2366703 Registered Office: Northumbria House, Abbey Road Pity Me, Durham DH1 5FJ Draft Drought Plan 2022 Essex & Suffolk Water NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY We have prepared a summary of this Draft Drought Plan which explains in non- technical language how we respond to a drought and summarises the main triggers and actions in our Draft Drought Plan. This can be found on our website: www.nwg.co.uk/droughtplan Additionally, Defra has prepared the following document which summarises how water companies plan for dry weather and drought to make sure they can supply water and protect the environment: www.gov.uk/government/publications/drought-managing-water-supply Non-technical summary 1 Draft Drought Plan 2022 Essex & Suffolk Water CONTENTS NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 1 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Purpose of this Draft Drought Plan ................................................................................... 7 1.2 What is Drought? ................................................................................................................. 7 1.3 Regulatory Framework ........................................................................................................ 8 1.4 Early Consultation ............................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Draft Drought Plan Public Consultation ............................................................................ 8 2. ESSEX & SUFFOLK WATER INFORMATION ........................................................................... 10 2.1 ESW Supply System and Drought Management Areas ................................................. 10 2.1.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Essex Water Resource Zone ................................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Suffolk Hartismere Water Resource Zone .............................................................................. 14 2.1.4 Suffolk Blyth Water Resource Zone ........................................................................................ 14 2.1.5 Suffolk Northern/Central Water Resource Zone .................................................................... 14 2.2 Restrictions on water use and our Levels of Service .................................................... 15 2.2.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2 Level 1 Appeal for Restraint ..................................................................................................... 16 2.2.3 Level 2 Temporary Use Ban ..................................................................................................... 16 2.2.4 Level 3 Non-Essential Use Ban ............................................................................................... 16 2.2.5 Level 4 Standpipes and Rota Cuts .......................................................................................... 16 2.3 Fire Service ........................................................................................................................ 17 2.4 Links to Other Plans .......................................................................................................... 17 2.4.1 National Drought Framework for England and Environment Agency Area Drought Plans 17 2.4.2 Regional Water Resources Groups ......................................................................................... 18 2.4.3 Water Resources Management Plan ...................................................................................... 19 2.4.4 NWL Business Plan ................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.5 NWL Emergency Plan ............................................................................................................... 20 2.4.6 River Basin Management Plan ................................................................................................. 21 2.4.7 Other Water Company Drought Plans .................................................................................... 21 2.5 Agreements and arrangements for bulk supplies and transfers .................................. 21 2.5.1 Potable Water ............................................................................................................................. 21 2.5.2 Raw Water Bulk Supply ............................................................................................................ 22 3. DROUGHT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND PROCESS ........................................................ 24 3.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 24 3.2 Drought Management Objectives .................................................................................... 24 3.3 Internal Management ......................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Drought Management Process ......................................................................................... 26 3.4.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 26 3.4.2 Stage 1: Resource Monitoring and supply & demand forecasting ...................................... 27 3.4.3 Stage 2: Drought Action Trigger levels reached or exceeded ............................................. 27 3.4.4 Stage 3: Idenitify, Consider and Select Potential Drought Actions ..................................... 27 3.4.5 Stage 4: Consult, Notify and Apply for Selected Drought Actions ...................................... 27 3.4.6 Stage 5: Implement Drought Actions ..................................................................................... 27 3.4.7 Stage 6: Monitor Effect of Drought Actions on Supply, Demand and the Environment .. 28 3.4.8 Stage 7: Post Drought Review ................................................................................................ 28 Contents 2 Draft Drought Plan 2022 Essex & Suffolk Water 3.5 External Stakeholders ....................................................................................................... 28 3.6 Decisions & Consultation in a Drought ........................................................................... 28 4. RESOURCE MONITORING & DROUGHT INDICATORS .......................................................... 29 4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 Water Resources Situation Report .................................................................................. 29 4.3 Drought Indicators & Monitoring ..................................................................................... 30 4.3.1 Rainfall ......................................................................................................................................... 30 4.3.2 Soil Moisture Deficit ................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.3 Groundwater Levels ................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.4 River Flows ................................................................................................................................. 31 4.3.5 Reservoir and Lake Levels ....................................................................................................... 31 4.3.6 Weather