Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets the Department gives water suppliers for the delivery of alternative water to vulnerable residents following the loss of water supply.

The Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD 2022) requires water companies to make, keep under review, test and revise plans to ensure the continuation of their water supply functions, and ensure they have the necessary capability, capacity and facilities to implement their plans. In the event of an unavoidable failure of normal (piped) supply, companies must ensure that a minimum supply of safe drinking water is provided by alternative means, with a specific requirement to identify and prioritise its vulnerable customers.

Companies must make available 10 litres of alternative water per day to all customers who are off supply within 24 hours of an incident starting, and maintain this supply until the piped supply is restored. Defra expects water companies to follow Ofwat guidance on supporting vulnerable customers during incidents. Their plans should take into account the higher-than-average quantities of water needed by some vulnerable customers, in particular those with specific medical needs, as well as being able to promptly identify and support to vulnerable customers, including transient vulnerabilities and customers that are not on a Priority Services Register (PSR).