United Utilities has announced it will impose a hosepipe ban across the North West following what is believed to be the longest heatwave since 1976.
But fear not, those who have been battling to keep their garden green during the heatwave will be relieved to hear they can still water their garden but will have to resort to using the primitive watering can.
Martin Padley, Services Director for the water provider said the ban will come into force on August 5 in order to help ‘safeguard essential water supplies’.
The weather’s been lovely but lack of rain & high demand for water means our reservoirs are lower than we’d like for the time of year. That’s why on 5th August a #hosepipeban will be introduced across most of the #NorthWest. See how the ban affects you https://t.co/fNaWNcsCnH pic.twitter.com/7TIzwWcPcU
— United Utilities (@unitedutilities) 17 July 2018
The ban will only apply to customers in the North West, including Greater Manchester, who get their water supply from United Utilities, with the exception of customers in Carlisle and the north Eden Valley, where supplies remain at reasonable levels.
Other water companies across England said they have adequate supplies and have no plans to impose similar bans.
Mr Padley said: “Despite some recent rainfall, reservoir levels are still lower than we would expect at this time of year and, with forecasters predicting a return to hot dry weather for the rest of July, we are now at a point where we will need to impose some temporary restrictions on customers.
“It is not a decision we have taken lightly and we are enormously grateful to customers for having helped reduce the demand on our network over the last couple of weeks, but unless we get a period of sustained rainfall before 5 August these restrictions will help us safeguard essential water supplies for longer.”
Whilst the ban restricts the use of hosepipes or sprinklers for watering private gardens and washing private cars, customers will still be able to water their gardens with a watering can and wash their vehicles using a bucket and sponge.
The firm said the ban was being implemented alongside its other efforts to maintain essential supplies, including maximising water abstraction from groundwater supplies, moving water around its regional integrated network of pipes as well as running a campaign to encourage customers to use water wisely.
The water provider also has the power to impose fines of up to £1,000 for people who flouted the new restriction.
For more information visit the United Utilities website.