Yorkshire Water has announced it will introduce a hosepipe ban in two weeks
The ban, which covers over 5 million customers across the network, will come into effect on August 26 and prevents residents from carrying out actives such as watering plants, cleaning cars or filling up swimming pools using a hosepipe.
Yorkshire Water has said its reservoir levels have fallen below 50 per cent for the first time since the drought of 1995, adding that it will take months of rainfall to replenish.
Under the ban, residents will be banned from:
- Watering a garden using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
- Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
- Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
- Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
- Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
Yorkshire Water customers can still carry out these activities if they use water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from the mains such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example.
Neil Dewis, Yorkshire Water’s director of water, said: “We’ve been doing everything we can to avoid putting in restrictions but unfortunately, they’re now necessary as part of our drought planning.
“We’re grateful to our customers, who have been saving water where they can this summer. It is really important that we all continue to do so, to help protect our water resources and the environment.”
He added: “Our decision to introduce a hosepipe ban is based on the risk that water stocks continue to fall in the coming weeks and the need to be cautious about clean water supplies and long term river health.”
The hosepipe ban allows water companies such Yorkshire Water to apply for a drought permit from the Environment Agency, which essentially means it can take more water from the rivers.
For businesses, they are only permitted to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose.
