In a 2018 publication, Preparing for a Drier Future, the National Infrastructure Commission set out the case for a new drought resilience standard. Under the new standard, there would be a 5% chance that standpipes, rota cuts or other emergency measures might be needed over a 25 year period. This is about five times better than traditional water resources planning in England and Wales.
The new resilience standard is now translated into planning guidelines for water companies. The expectation is that water companies should meet this standard by 2039.
What do you think? Should the water companies be aiming for this standard earlier than 2039? Or are there other priorities?