Hosepipe ban put on hold...for now
ENGLAND’s first hosepipe ban in six years was dramatically called off yesterday – despite the scorching temperatures.
The ban by the United Utilities water services company was due to start in the North-west on Sunday and would have affected seven million people.
But cooler temperatures and recent rainfall have led to the change of mind.
United Utilities water services director Dr Martin Padley said: “Given the improved position, helped by recent rainfall, we do not want to inconvenience customers unnecessarily at this time. However, the long-range forecast from the Met Office is one of relatively dry weather into the autumn, so future restrictions are still a possibility if more rain doesn’t arrive.”
Early last month, residents in the North-west were told by United Utilities they would face a ban starting on August 5.
It would have been the first ban to hit England since 2012, when restrictions were brought in by seven water companies, affecting 20 million customers.
This has been the UK’s driest first half of a summer on record, with last month the third hottest July ever recorded.
On Monday, United Utilities said that the heavy downpour over the weekend was “the wrong type of rain” and that the ban was “still on”.
But yesterday they finally called it off after accepting that the recent rain had offered a brief respite from the droughts hitting reservoirs and waterways.
A hosepipe ban had been put in place in Northern Ireland on June 29.
But restrictions might not be far away in England, with an Iberian plume currently roasting western Europe and heading here.
Met Office experts said temperatures today will peak at 90F (32C), leading to continued warm weather over the weekend.
The North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will enjoy temperatures in the mid-70s with light scattered showers.
Holidaymakers heading to Spain and Portugal were warned that the heatwave is creating some of the hottest temperatures recorded on the Continent, with the mercury nudging 111F.