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Two water giants are imposing hosepipe restrictions amid rising temperatures
Many UK households are now under hosepipe bans amid scorching temperatures, and following a very dry spring. Customers of certain water companies will be prohibited from using hoses for various activities, including gardening and filling paddling pools, as temperatures peaked at 34.7C in England on Friday.
South East Water is set to implement its hosepipe ban on July 18, while Yorkshire Water introduced its restrictions on July 11. Both companies attributed the move to depleted reservoirs, following the driest spring in over a century, coupled with a surge in water demand.
Last night, Yorkshire Water explained: “While we’re out 24/7 fixing leaks and looking after your water, we’re asking customers to put down their hosepipes, so we can let our reservoirs recover. Our reservoir levels haven’t actually increased since the last week of January!
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“Normally our groundwater sources and reservoirs get topped up over spring when the weather is changeable but this year we’ve had the driest spring on record and Yorkshire is officially in drought. The hosepipe restrictions allow us to apply for drought permits, so we can change how we’re operating and further protect water supplies.”
Spokespeople at South East Water said: “With the ongoing dry weather and high temperatures, we’re all using far more water than usual at home, meaning that we’re pumping much more drinking water to customer taps than normal. Met Office reports show this has been the driest spring in the region since 1893.
“We’ve tried everything possible to avoid these restrictions. Despite your help to save water, and our ongoing efforts to manage our water resources, including launching a comprehensive strategy to find and tackle leaks, our reservoir and underground water storage levels are really low.”
South East Water’s hosepipe ban will extend across Kent and Sussex, affecting residents in key urban areas such as Canterbury. While current restrictions do not encompass Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, the company has indicated that it will keep a close watch on these areas.
People living in towns like Farnham, Basingstoke and Windsor are therefore urged to minimise water usage during morning and evening peak times to ‘prevent low pressure issues at peak times’. South East Water stressed that restrictions will be lifted when it is ‘satisfied that both customer demand and water supply levels are restored to a point’ where they are not breaching its Drought Plan.
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Yorkshire Water has implemented a ban affecting all households supplied by them, typically spanning West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, as well as certain parts of North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, and Derbyshire.
The enforcement does not impact customers receiving only wastewater services from Yorkshire Water. The firm has similarly cautioned that while the duration of the bans is uncertain, significant rain must occur before they can be lifted.
Yorkshire Water added: “We can’t predict the weather, but we will not have the restrictions in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. We will be closely monitoring this and will keep everyone updated.”
Although Thames Water hasn’t enforced a ban, it has signalled that its ‘water levels are under pressure’ and plans to ‘keep a close watch on the situation’.
Here’s the complete rundown of regions currently impacted by hosepipe bans:
- South Yorkshire
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- parts of North Lincolnshire
- Parts of North Yorkshire
- Parts of Derbyshire
- Kent
- Sussex
- West Yorkshire
What does a ban mean?
During a ban, South East Water highlights that you generally must not use a hosepipe for:
- Cleaning windows or patios
- Filling swimming pools
- Filling paddling pools
- Gardening
- Washing cars
There are no plans for a hosepipe ban across Merseyside as yet, but United Utilities previously issued advice on how people can cut their water use.
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