Hosepipes banned as reservoir levels drop

DRYING up . . . water levels at Dovestone Reservoir

UNITED Utilities will impose a hosepipe ban for the first time in 14 years following the driest summer since records began.

The ban, which starts at 6am on Friday, applies to all North-West customers except those in Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland and the north Eden Valley where supplies are at reasonable levels.

Anyone caught flouting the ban faces a fine of up to £1,000.

It’s the driest spell since United Utilities records began 74 years ago, with only half the usual amount of rainfall.

Between January and March, there would usually be 56.9cm (22.4in) but this year there was only 29.9cm (11.8 inches) — a drop of 48 per cent.

John Sanders, United Utilities water regulation and strategy manager, said: “Despite some recent rainfall in the north of the region, reservoir levels are still significantly lower than we would expect at this time of year and are now at a point where we need to impose some temporary restrictions on our customers.

“It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but a hosepipe can use as much water in an hour as a family of four would use in one day.

“This ban will help us to safeguard essential water supplies to our customers if the drought continues.”

The ban will restrict the use of hosepipes or sprinklers for watering private gardens and washing private cars.

Customers can still water their gardens with a watering can and wash their vehicles using a bucket and sponge. These methods typically use a fraction of the amount of water a hosepipe or sprinkler uses.

A sprinkler left running overnight uses as much water as a family of four would use in a week.

The move by United Utilities follows the company’s earlier actions to maintain essential supplies, such as maximising water abstraction from ground water supplies and moving water around its regional integrated network of pipes.

Mr Sanders added: “We need to be very mindful that we share our water supply with the environment and we all need to do our bit to protect supplies for the benefit not just of our own communities but also our river wildlife.

“We will need much more significant rainfall before the position starts to turn around.

“We are asking our customers to please observe the hosepipe ban and do what they can to save water in other areas of their daily lives.

“There are some simple things we can all do such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and running washing machines and dishwashers with a full load.”

For water-saving tips and information about the hosepipe ban visit www.unitedutilities.com