According to Everflow’s analysis of data from Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL), 60% of all non-household (NHH) water consumption in England now falls within regions the Environment Agency classifies as seriously water stressed.

The most acutely stressed areas span much of South and East of England, covering regions served by Thames Water, Anglian Water, South East Water and Affinity Water, where demand already outstrips available supply in dry years.

Businesses and residents in these zones face a higher likelihood of drought restrictions, including Temporary Use Bans (hose pipe bans), Non-Essential Use Bans (which prevent certain business from trading), supply interruptions and significant financial impacts.

With over one third of business supply points also located in Water Resources Zones (WRZs) that are already operating under significant water deficits, small businesses face growing risks around supply reliability, drought driven restrictions and cost visibility.  

Water supply pressures are expected to intensify from April which is the start of the Environment Agency’s drought risk period. Spring brings lower rainfall, rising temperatures, and growing demand from agricultural and commercial users, which stretches available resources. For SMEs, this typically drier, higher-risk period raises real questions about operational resilience.  

Yet many businesses still lack the tools to monitor and reduce their usage effectively. Everflow's analysis shows only around 10% of business meters operate as fully ‘smart’ - far below the level needed to achieve Defra’s target of a 9% reduction in non-household demand. Limited real-time tracking continues to hinder early leak detection and accurate consumption tracking. 

Meanwhile, meter reading delays remain widespread. Everflow's analysis of long unread meter data reveals the ongoing scale of devices that go more than 12 months without being read, a figure that means roughly 1 in 10 business meters goes more than 12 months without a read. For SMEs, missed opportunities to spot leaks early can result in high bills and backdated charges.

Only 1% of business supply points accounts for more than half of all non-household consumption

At the other end of the spectrum, Everflow's analysis reveals that only 1% of business supply points accounts for more than half of all non-household consumption. This is not limited to large industrial users. Many are SMEs in hospitality, food and beverage manufacturing and education. These sectors remain critical targets for efficiency gains in water-stressed regions.

Lois Staplehurst, Head of Public Affairs at Everflow commented:

"This data shows how uneven the picture is for businesses across England. Many are operating in highly stressed regions without the basic meter reads needed to manage consumption confidently.”

She added:

"As we move into spring and the risk of restrictions increases, the combination of low smart meter delivery and long unread meters makes it harder for businesses to plan, budget and respond quickly to leaks and changes in usage. Without this visibility, customers in a drought-affected zones will be less able to manage their consumption effectively, leading to supply restrictions that could have been avoided with better monitoring capabilities for both customers and their providers. Improving that visibility, particularly for SMEs, is one of the most effective ways to build resilience without adding cost or complexity."

Everflow is a customer-led utilities company serving SMEs across the UK with environmentally friendly water supply, commercial waste and telecoms services.