Hosepipe ban warning – for next summer!

A SUMMER hosepipe ban across a swathe of the country was threatened yesterday – as other areas braced themselves for an autumn drenching.

Southern Water raised the prospect of a ban because its reserves are heavily depleted following southeast England receiving only half its normal rainfall last winter and this autumn being dry so far.

One of its reservoirs, Bewl Water, on the Kent and East Sussex border, is only 34 per cent full. Another reservoir operated by the company, which supplies Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, is 43 per cent full.

Meanwhile, the Met Office is warning of more than half a month’s rain in one day for parts of Lancashire, Cumbria, the North East and Yorkshire tomorrow. More than 2in could fall even at low levels, rising to 4in on high ground.

Average November rainfall for the whole of England is 3.5in, rising to 5.5in for north-west England.

Today in the South, sheltered spots to the east of high ground, such as near Dartmoor and the Welsh Marches, could reach 15C (59F). And it could be even warmer tomorrow, with one forecast agency, MeteoGroup, predicting isolated sheltered spots may reach 18C (64F).

Yesterday Ian McAulay, chief of Southern Water, said restrictions on water supplies next summer, such as hosepipe bans, were ‘certainly part of our scenario’. He added: ‘We have had one dry winter. We’re currently in a second dry winter, so we are looking at how do we replenish our stocks.’ Southern Water said its underground reserves were in better shape, but its region only had 1.3in of rain in October, less than 40 per cent of the monthly average.

Rainfall across the UK averaged 10in last winter, which is 76 per cent of the average for the last 30 years, but in the South East there was only 50 per cent of usual rain.

Up north, the Met Office is warning of disruption to transport and a risk of flooding.

Met Office spokesman Emma Sharples said: ‘It is certainly going to be wet and that rain will be widespread across northern England.’

She added that the mild southern air is due to a low pressure system dragging mild air from the Bay of Biscay and southern Europe. Thursday will remain mild in the South with sunshine and a few showers, but the North is due to be cloudier and cooler.

Miss Sharples said: ‘Towards the end of the week, we are expecting cooler air from polar regions which will bring dry and bright conditions ... near the coasts, some of which may be wintry in the North.’

Householders are being urged to ignore ‘myths’ about not clearing snowy or icy paths in case they get sued if someone slips. The Department for Transport’s ‘snow code’ advises people to use shovels then salt and sand but to avoid hot water, which may refreeze.

‘Replenish our stocks’