Purpose

To set out the Council’s proposed response to Portsmouth Water’s consultation on its Draft Drought Plan 2027 and to seek approval to submit that response.

Portsmouth Water has issued its Draft Drought Plan 2027 for consultation.  There plan covers the company’s supply area, including Fareham, and sets out how water supplies would be managed during periods of prolonged dry weather.

The Plan is based on a staged approach linked to groundwater levels.  As conditions worsen, the response moves from monitoring and communication through to restrictions on water use, followed by wider restrictions and, in extreme circumstances, emergency measures.

The consultation asks for views on whether the plan is clear, whether the proposed approach is appropriate, and whether the balance between demand management, supply measures and environmental protection is right.

The Council’s proposed response is broadly supportive of the approach set out in the plan.  It reflects a structured and proportionate response to drought conditions and gives appropriate priority to reducing demand before increasing supply.

There are a number of areas where further clarity would be helpful, including: how restrictions and exemptions would be applied in practice, how communication with residents and local authorities would be managed during a drought, and how environmental mitigation would operate if supply-side measures are required.

The full proposed consultation response is set out in Appendix A.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the proposed consultation response to Portsmouth Water’s Draft Drought Plan 2027; and

(b)  authorises the Director of Streetscene to submit that response on behalf of the Council.