When you think of a long, hot UK summer, you’re probably associating it with more footfall to your garden centre – after all, everyone wants to be outside in the sun. But as heatwaves, drought and prolonged dry weather become more common, there’s a growing and noticeable pressure on the UK’s water resources. Garden centres need to ask the question: Are you prepared?
The “new normal”
The unusual sight of brittle, brown grass across most of England is enough to illustrate that climate change is no longer invisible in the UK. Temperatures above 35°C have been recorded on an unprecedented number of days, parts of southern England experienced almost two months without measurable rainfall, and The Met Office issued three consecutive days of red warnings for extreme heat, something that’s never been done before under the current weather warning system.
71% of England is now officially in drought*, and approximately 29 million people are currently affected by water restrictions such as hosepipe bans. Although these rarely affect businesses, Wholesalers have a duty to provide water to households as a priority. If we find ourselves in a serious water shortage in the future, it’s possible garden centres and other businesses will be the first to face the consequences.
Experts are predicting this is the “new normal”, so do you know what would happen if your water supply was suddenly unavailable?
Preparing for every eventuality
Higher temperatures mean higher water demand, and with droughts and heatwaves becoming more frequent and severe, it’s vital to have a plan in place in case the water goes off. Even a short interruption to supply can have a significant impact on your business, damaging plant stock, affecting quality, impacting the customer experience and ultimately resulting in lost revenue.
Many businesses have a plan in place for if the power goes off, or in case of emergencies. Putting water on the radar and having a documented response for a prolonged loss of supply will protect your plants, give you peace of mind and make you more resilient so you can continue to grow in the future.
What is a contingency plan?
A water contingency plan helps ensure your garden centre can continue operating during periods of drought, emergency restrictions or supply interruptions. These events may be unavoidable, but their impact doesn’t have to be.
Assess your water needs: Identify where water is needed most urgently, the impact a supply interruption could have on your site and how long you could operate without it.
Review existing plans: Check your current emergency and business continuity procedures to identify any gaps you might have.
Plan alternative supplies: Consider emergency options such as tankered water, temporary storage tanks or bottled water so you never have to close due to loss of supply.
Assess your site: Understand how emergency water could be delivered and stored safely on site, and identify any risks.
Create a clear plan: Cover emergency procedures and any alternative supply arrangements, as well as defining roles and responsibilities so your employees know exactly
what to do. Develop clear communication plans for your suppliers, customers and staff. Keep it up to date: Review your plan regularly to make sure it continues to reflect your
operations and risks.
Add some certainty into an uncertain future
Our climate is changing, visibly so, and business resilience is now just as important as efficiency when it comes to water. By investing the time to develop a detailed contingency plan, you can protect your garden centre, stay sustainable and keep customers happy in the event of another scorching summer.
*Correct at time of writing
