HOSEPIPE BAN ‘IN DAYS’
‘NO CHOICE’ SAYS WATER COMPANY
UNITED Utilities say they will have ‘no choice’ but to introduce a hosepipe ban if water demand does not fall in the coming days.
The north west has not seen rain for three weeks, which is leading to a drop in water levels at reservoirs.
Photos from Blackstone Edge Reservoir in Littleborough, Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Ogden Reservoir near Milnrow and Bottoms Reservoir near Hadfield, show mounds of dry, cracked earth surrounding shallow pools of water.
United Utilities said the pictures were unsurprising – considering the lack of rainfall and high demand during this period – but are asking people to cut the amount of water they are using to avoid a hosepipe ban coming into force.
The north west is currently using 500 million litres of water each day. If that level does not reduce in the coming days, United Utilities say they will have to introduce a ‘temporary use ban’ – better known as a hosepipe ban.
It legally prohibits people from watering a garden using a hosepipe or sprinkler, cleaning their cars with a hosepipe, filling garden ponds and kids’ paddling pools, and other similar activities.
A spokesperson said: “The pro- longed hot weather means the region’s reservoir stores have decreased since last week, with some reservoirs looking more dramatic than others.
“The reducing reservoir levels are not surprising given the ongoing lack of rainfall and exceptionally high demand.
“We are managing resources carefully, and our integrated network, which we have invested heavily in, does give us the flexibility to move water around the region, to reduce demand on those sources which are lower.”
They added: “We are still encouraging our customers to voluntarily use water efficiently, by avoiding the use of water-hungry devices, particularly outside in the garden.
“However, if demand does not reduce in the next few days we’ll have no choice but to introduce enforced restrictions.”
The latest reservoir levels, released by the company on Wednesday, have the total regional water stock at 71.4 per cent – compared to 84.1pc this time last year.
Pennine reservoirs are currently at 63.9pc (compared to 73.3pc last year) and Haweswater and Thirlmere in the Lake District are at 57.8pc (79pc 12 months ago).
According to the Met Office, the last time any rain fell in Greater Manchester was on June 16 when 3.8mm was recorded.
It is still unclear when the region will be hit by another downpour.
Grahame Madge, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “It is possible we could see some light rain on Monday, but it is nothing substantial and just isolated showers.
“In terms of weather conditions we have got another period of high pressure that will bring some warm temperatures again. We are expecting it in some parts for the temperatures to go back up again, on Sunday and Monday we could see highs of 31C to 32C in some places. “In the north west there will be no significant rainfall over the next week. The conditions that are building over the weekend look to remain the same for the end of the next week. “There might be some relief the following week. “It looks like conditions in the Atlantic might start to signify an early change, but we don’t know yet if it will amount to anything meaningful yet.” Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued an amber health warning for this weekend. Temperatures could reach to 33C in some parts of the UK, particularly in western England. They highest temperatures are likely to occur on Sunday, which will be dry and fine with light winds but the warning is in place until 9am Monday. As part of the alert Public Health England is urging people to look after themselves and others who may be at risk.