Guide
Water management and drought resilience for businesses
How drought conditions affect businesses, including water company restrictions, temporary use bans, drought orders, abstraction licence restrictions, and practical steps to build water resilience into your operations.
Why drought resilience matters for businesses
Drought conditions can disrupt business operations through water supply restrictions, increased costs, and regulatory intervention. Climate change projections suggest that droughts will become more frequent and severe in the UK, particularly in southern and eastern England.
Businesses that depend heavily on water, whether for manufacturing, food production, agriculture, or hospitality, should understand how drought restrictions work and plan for reduced supply. Even businesses with low water use can be affected if their supply chain depends on water-intensive processes.
How drought restrictions affect your business
Temporary Use Bans (TUBs)
Water companies can impose Temporary Use Bans on their customers without a drought order. These typically prohibit watering gardens with a hosepipe, cleaning vehicles, filling swimming pools, and similar non-essential uses. TUBs can affect businesses such as car washes, garden centres, swimming pool operators, and outdoor leisure providers.
Non-essential Use Bans (drought orders)
More severe restrictions on non-domestic customers require a drought order from the Secretary of State. These can prohibit or restrict the use of water for specific business purposes, including cleaning commercial vehicles, operating mechanical car washes, suppressing dust on construction sites, and filling ornamental fountains.
Abstraction restrictions
If your business abstracts water from rivers, lakes, or groundwater, your abstraction licence may include conditions that restrict abstraction during low flows. Additionally, the Environment Agency can modify licence conditions through drought permits. Spray irrigation licences are often the first to be restricted.
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1. Assess your water dependency
Map all water uses in your business, including manufacturing processes, cooling systems, cleaning, staff facilities, grounds maintenance, and supply chain water use. Calculate your daily and seasonal water consumption to understand your exposure to restrictions.
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2. Identify alternative water sources
Consider whether you could use rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, or borehole abstraction (subject to licensing) to reduce dependence on mains supply. Some businesses invest in on-site water storage tanks to maintain supply during restrictions.
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3. Reduce water consumption
Implement water efficiency measures including leak detection and repair, low-flow fixtures, process water recycling, and staff awareness programmes. Water efficiency not only builds drought resilience but also reduces operating costs.
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4. Check your abstraction licence conditions
If you abstract water, review your licence for hands-off flow conditions, seasonal restrictions, and drought-related provisions. Contact the Environment Agency if you are unsure how your licence would be affected during drought.
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5. Create a drought contingency plan
Write a plan covering actions at each drought severity level, priority water uses, water rationing procedures, alternative supply arrangements, and communication with customers and staff. Review the plan annually before summer.
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6. Register for water company alerts
Most water companies provide drought updates and advance notice of restrictions. Register for alerts from your water company and the Environment Agency. Monitor the Water Situation Reports published by the Environment Agency.