Hosepipe ban on its way

HOUSEHOLDS are facing a bone dry summer as bookies slash the odds of a hosepipe ban.

Only 10mm of rain has fallen this month and it is set to be the driest May for 124 years.

Newcastle and surrounding areas are now drier than the Sahara with less rain falling in Geordieland over the past two months than the African desert.

United Utilities is within weeks of reservoirs falling to levels which triggered its 2018 hosepipe ban for seven million customers in north-west England.

Its reservoirs in West Cumbria are just 45% full.

The firm said: “We encourage people to save water, especially as coronavirus is seeing more home water use.”

But it insisted it was not “overly concerned” about reservoir levels.

United Utilities’ reservoirs are at 76% of capacity – down on the average 88% – after falling 3.6% last week.

The firm’s 2018 hosepipe ban came when its reservoirs were at 63%. The ban was called off at the last minute after deluges.

Water bosses’ pleas for customers to save water come just three months after floods and one of the record.

Home water use has soared 20% with millions of Britons in lockdown, Scottish Water said.

Anglia Water said: “We’d advocate people using water wisely, especially with people being at home during coronavirus.”

Bookmakers Coral slashed odds on a hosepipe ban anywhere in the UK to 1-2.

Coral spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: “The soil is like rock and punters believe hosepipe bans are on the way.”

The two months since midmarch wettest winters on have seen just 15mm of rain in Britain’s driest places which include Boulmer in Northumberland and Leconfield in East Yorkshire.

And much of the south-east has had under 2mm of rain in muggy May.

The Met Office’s three-month forecast said: “For May-july below average rainfall is more likely than above average.

“High pressure means an increased likelihood of drierthan-normal conditions.”