A drainage and wastewater management plan (DWMP) will set out how water and wastewater companies intend to extend, improve and maintain a robust and resilient drainage and wastewater system. The plan must take a long-term view, setting out a planning period that is appropriate to the risks faced by each company, but with a minimum period of 25 years. The framework for DWMPs has been developed in response to the need to improve the approaches taken by the water sector to long-term drainage and wastewater planning with a view to providing greater transparency, robustness and line of sight to investment decisions that lead to cost to customers.

The ten England and Wales water and wastewater companies that are subject to regulatory price controls, have committed to produce DWMPs in accordance with this framework. The DWMPs will inform their business plan submissions for the next price review in 2024. It is anticipated that for subsequent planning periods the DWMPs will become embedded within companies’ planning processes as business as usual. The framework has the potential to be used by other wastewater service providers within England and Wales and is also expected to be of relevance to other parts of the UK.

The framework provides the basis for more collaborative and integrated planning with and alongside organisations that have responsibilities relating to drainage, flooding and protection of the environment. Whilst the companies have a direct regulatory focus in relation to providing evidence in support of their strategic business plans, it is important to recognise that the responsibility for developing the drainage and wastewater plan is shared between all stakeholders and collaborative engagement is essential.

The framework provides the basis for more collaborative and integrated planning with and alongside organisations that have responsibilities relating to drainage, flooding and protection of the environment. Whilst the companies have a direct regulatory focus in relation to providing evidence in support of their strategic business plans, it is important to recognise that the responsibility for developing the drainage and wastewater plan is shared between all stakeholders and collaborative engagement is essential.