Hosepipe ban set to run and run

A HOSEPIPE ban remains in force across the North-West which means residents must find an alternative way of watering the garden or cleaning the car. United Utilities imposed the ban for the first time in 14 years due to an unseasonably dry start to the year. Reporter BEATRIZ AYALA finds out how this has affected Oldham and how to save water.

SINCE the hosepipe ban was announced on July 9, the heavens have opened across Oldham.

Summer showers have blighted many an event over the past fortnight, even though the wet weather has been welcomed by gardeners and allotments users alike.

However, despite the deluge, United Utilities have stood their ground and the ban remains in place.

It has been the driest start to a year since 1929, with only half the usual amount of rainfall.

Between January and March, there would usually be 22.4in of rain, but this year there was only 11.8in — a drop of 48 per cent.

Even heavy rain last week wasn’t enough to lift the ban, as sustained rainfall is needed to fill the reservoirs rather than just wet the parched soil.

Helen Wilson, of United Utilities, said: “The recent wet weather has been very helpful and we hope it has aided people in terms of watering their gardens.

“But we are still grateful to everyone for continuing to abide by the hosepipe ban and continuing to do everything they can to save water.”

The ban restricts the use of hosepipes or sprinklers for watering private gardens and washing private cars, with anyone caught flouting the ban facing fines of up to £1,000.

Residents can still use a watering can to refresh the lawn and garden, and clean the car with a bucket and sponge as both methods typically use a fraction of the amount of water a hosepipe or sprinkler uses.

A hosepipe can use as much water in an hour as a family of four would use in one day.

Across Oldham, it’s not only residents who are doing their bit to conserve the precious resource. Staff at Oldham Council’s parks department are making sure they’re careful with water even though they are not banned from using hosepipes.

Steve Smith, head of parks, said: “We try and lead by example. We are not banned from using water and we can still use hosepipes, but we are very careful with what we use.

“We water hanging baskets and civic displays twice or three times a week.

“The baskets have a reservoir at the bottom and a gel in the compost that expands when watered and retains moisture.

“We stopped watering bowling greens years ago. They will recover and it is not a priority, despite a few complaints from bowlers.

“We use a layer of mulch on plants to preserve as much water as possible.”

Heavy snowfall in January and February has left many scratching their heads as to why all that iced water did not boost reservoir levels. Mr Smith said weeks of the white stuff only amounted to about an inch of rain with no moisture getting into the frozen ground.

He added: “The lack of rain has caused problems. You can see that newly-planted items are suffering stress but it’s not right that we should be watering everywhere.

“Some plants can shut down and recover, but we are keeping use of water to a real minimum.

“I think the ban will go right through the summer and well into autumn.

“The ground is so dry, it will take some serious rainfall to go back to normal.

“Being careful with water should be a year-round thing anyway.

“Water is a precious resource and we’ve all got to make an effort.”






Saving water at home

Kitchen

:: Save the cold water that comes through before a tap runs hot and use it to water plants.

:: Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of waiting for the tap to run cold.

:: Wash fruit and vegetables in a washing-up bowl full of water instead of under a running tap.


Bathroom

:: A person flushes as much water in a day as they would drink in a whole month, so install a water displacement device (or ‘hippo’) in the cistern to reduce the amount used.

:: When buying a new toilet, choose a water-saving, low-flush or dual-flush version.

:: Turn off the taps — leaving a tap running while cleaning your teeth can waste nine litres of water a minute.

:: Throw cotton wool, sanitary products and other waste in the bin, not the toilet.

:: Have a shower instead of a bath and use a shower timer — one minute off your shower time for a family of four would save 12,000 litres of water a year.

:: Fit a water flow regulator to your shower head to reduce the amount of water you use by 30 per cent.


Appliances

:: Try to use appliances only when they’re full — half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load.

:: Look for a washing machine that uses less than 50 litres per wash or a dishwasher that uses less than 15 litres per wash.


Fix it

:: A dripping tap can waste up to 15 litres of water a day but a new washer costs just a few pence and can be fitted in minutes.

:: Install a leak detector to warn you about leaks anywhere in your house.

:: Put lagging on your outside pipes to help avoid burst pipes and leaks in winter.