Hosepipe ban unlikely to be introduced this year

 
People enjoying the warm weather in Green Park, central London
PA
2 May 2013

Water users are unlikely to face hosepipe bans this year, authorities have said today.

A year ago, rate payers in some pockets of the UK were in the puzzling situation of having to endure water restrictions at a time of widespread heavy rainfall which contributed to 2012 being the second wettest year on record.

Those who introduced the ban last year affected the usage habits of 20 million people.

But what may have seen like months of almost relentless rainfall have helped replenish stocks at reservoirs across the country, minimising the prospect of restrictions or droughts being declared this summer.

Victoria Williams, drought advisor at the Environment Agency, said: "Our latest water situation report details a positive outlook for water resources in the coming months.

"(Last year) was the second wettest year on record, and despite a relatively dry start to 2013, river levels are normal or above normal at the majority of our monitoring sites.

"The results show a positive picture even if rainfall is below average and point to the risk of drought this summer being no greater than average.

"However it is still as important as ever to use water wisely. If the weather does turn hot and dry there could be localised impacts on rivers and the environment."

Seven water companies - Thames, Southern Water, South East Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East - introduced hosepipe bans in the spring of 2012 after the unusually dry winters left some groundwater supplies and rivers as low as in the drought year of 1976.

But the restrictions introduced early in April were followed by record rainfall across the UK for that month and June, with more rain between them in May. Most of the bans were lifted by early summer, while floods featured throughout November and December across some parts of the country.

South West Water today confirmed its reservoirs are ready to cope with the annual surge in demand as tourists help significantly boost the local population. Total storage in the region's 21 reservoirs now stands at 94.7% - with five completely full - compared with 88.5% at this time last year.

Neil Whiter, head of water resources, said: "In days gone by it was not uncommon for householders to have to put up with restrictions such as hosepipe bans and our research still shows some customers assume there are restrictions elsewhere in the region even when we are in better position than many other regions.

"So we want to say clearly, we have not needed to introduce restrictions since 1996 and we fully expect to continue that record through 2013."

A Thames Water spokesman described water supplies as "very healthy", while Marcus O'Kane, water resources strategy manager for Severn Trent Water, reported similar fortunes.

He said: "We are now looking ahead to the upcoming spring and summer period with our water sources in a good position. Our reservoirs are currently just under 94% full on average across the region.

"Our plans for the coming year are in place and we are confident that we're in a good position to provide our customers with a continuous supply of water throughout the year.

"But we would still ask our customers to be sensible with the amount of water they use as you never know when the next drought might be."

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