I’m writing to let you know that Portsmouth Water has launched a public consultation on its draft Drought Plan and is inviting customers and stakeholders to share their feedback. 

The Drought Plan sets out how we would ensure our customers continue to receive essential water supplies alongside balancing the needs of our local environment, even during prolonged periods of dry weather. All water companies in England and Wales are required to develop and update their Drought Plan at least every five years. 

While we haven’t implemented a Temporary Use Ban (commonly known as a hosepipe ban) since 1976, it is important to have strong plans in place, particularly as the country and region experience more extreme weather conditions. Your input and unique insight are key to making sure the plan reflects the needs of the local area. 

The consultation will run from 22nd May to 14th August. We invite you to review the draft plan and make your comments here:www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/drought-plan/ 

Subject to approval from DEFRA and the Environment Agency, we will publish our final Drought Plan in Spring 2027. 

The Drought Plan is just one of the ways we are working to ensure customers continue to receive safe, reliable water supplies. Alongside this, we have launched our largest-ever investment programme and are committing £377 million by 2030 to improve infrastructure, reduce leakage and invest in water efficiency initiatives. 

We are also continuing to roll out smart water meters across our supply area, helping customers to better understand and reduce their water use, while also identifying leaks earlier. 

We would welcome your feedback on the draft plan and would appreciate you sharing the consultation with your networks where appropriate. 

Kind regards,

Bob Taylor  | CEO

Portsmouth Water

M:07885 812932

Web: portsmouthwater.co.uk