The Environment Agency is managing drought risk in England through updated response frameworks and coordination with water companies and local authorities to address growing water supply-demand gaps. The policy recognises that water scarcity threatens major infrastructure projects and economic development, with the gap projected to reach 5 billion litres per day by 2050. Current status is active consultation and framework development, with the Regulators' Alliance for Progress on Infrastructure Development (RAPID) coordinating multi-agency responses.
In response to: Drought: how it is managed in England
How the Environment Agency works with government, water companies and others to manage water resources during a drought in England.
In response to: Drought: how it is managed in England – proposed updated response framework
In response to: Drought: how it is managed in England – proposed updated response framework
We want your comments on our proposed updated national drought response framework.
In response to: Update to the water company drought plan guideline (2025)
We want your views on updates to the guideline that water companies in England must follow when they prepare and publish their drought plans by 2027.
We want your views on updates to the guideline that water companies in England must follow when they prepare and publish their drought plans by 2027.
We want your comments on our proposed updated national drought response framework.
We want your views on updates to the guideline that water companies in England must follow when they prepare and publish their drought plans by 2027.
We want your comments on our proposed updated national drought response framework.
We want your views on our approach to determining areas of water stress to inform whether water companies can introduce compulsory metering in those areas.
We want your views on our approach to determining areas of water stress to inform whether water companies can introduce compulsory metering in those areas.
We want your views on our approach to determining areas of water stress to inform whether water companies can introduce compulsory metering in those areas.