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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency (a) plans to issue and (b) has already issued a drought permit to Thames Water.

Water companies have a statutory duty to produce a drought plan outlining actions the company will take to maintain water supplies during dry weather and drought. Such actions include applying for drought permits. Only water companies can apply to the Environment Agency (EA) for a drought permit. Drought permits allow water companies to either:

• Take water from any source specified
• Modify or suspend conditions on an abstraction or impoundment licence held by the water company

Thames Water is following its drought plan, and this contains details of drought permits and when the company may apply to the Environment Agency. The decision to apply for a drought permit, is the responsibility of the water company. As of 1 September 2025, Thames Water has not applied to the EA for a drought permit.