THAMES Water has joined a string of water suppliers around the UK in bringing in a hospipe ban amid a record-breakingly hot summer.
The water supplier is the latest to put usage restrictions in place as it seeks to conserve supplies.
A Temporary Use Ban (TUB) will come into effect on Thursday, July 23, meaning customers in the affected areas must not use hosepipes for non-essential activities such as watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or topping up hot tubs.
Thames Water says water use has remained “exceptionally high” during recent periods of record hot weather.
Figures show demand is currently around 10% above normal levels across the Thames Valley and Home Counties and 7% above normal in London.
On average, customers are using an additional 100 million litres of water every day across London and the Thames Valley, the equivalent of adding all the homes in Manchester to the company’s network.
During peak periods, water has been used faster than it can be treated and moved through parts of the network, placing additional pressure on local supplies.
It comes after not only an unprecedented hot summer, but an exceptionally dry spring; the Thames Water region received only 40% of average rainfall.
There has been no rainfall so far in July in the Thames catchment, combined with exceptionally high water use, which is stretching water resources across the region.
While Thames Water plans for periods of dry weather and increased summer demand, the scale and duration of recent demand is having significant impact on water resources.
Under the Temporary Use Ban, customers in the affected area must not use hosepipes, and are precluded from watering gardens, lawns or allotments; cleaning private cars, patios, paths, driveways, or windows; filling or topping up paddling pools, swimming pools or hot tubs ; and using sprinklers or similar equipment connected to the mains water supply.
Customers should continue to use water for essential needs such as drinking, cooking, washing and hygiene. Buckets and watering cans can still be used, and there are exemptions, including where water use is necessary for health and safety reasons or for customers with severe mobility problems.
Nevil Muncaster, Director of Strategic Water Resources at Thames Water, said: “We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment.
“Recent heatwaves and a very dry spring and summer have led to sustained high demand. While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing.
“Many customers have already reduced their water use and that support has made a difference. Thank you to everyone who has already changed their daily habits.
“Our teams are working 24/7 to keep water moving, fix leaks and support customers.
“We will keep the situation under close review and lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.”
