Fears over water supply across Wales are calmed

The Beacons Reservoir last week.

WELSH Water has issued a statement about the risk of hosepipe bans being imposed elsewhere in Wales.

People have been concerned by the sight of dried-up reservoirs across the nation. A ban was announced for Pembrokeshire and Camarthenshire which comes into effect from August 19.

A photograph taken at the Beacons Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday, August 5, shows huge banks of the reservoir exposed by the receding water levels.

However, despite the worrying images, Welsh Water has said that at the moment it believes that water resources across the rest of the nation are in a good position.

A spokesperson said: “Water resources across the majority of Wales are in a reasonably good position despite the exceptionally dry periods we have experienced and the recent record high temperatures.

“We did have a concern about the situation in Pembrokeshire which is why we needed to take steps and announce a temporary use ban from August 19.

“We remind all of our three million customers to avoid wasting water and have simple, handy water efficiency advice on our website.”

The water company said the hosepipe ban was necessary to ensure that water supplies can be maintained through the summer and into the autumn.

Reservoirs in the Pembrokeshire area are approaching drought levels, due to record temperatures and an increased demand for water.

The spokesperson added: “Our decisions to ask customers to be careful with their water use or to impose temporary use bans in Pembrokeshire are based on or water resource (reservoir) stocks being lower than they would normally.

“This is because we have had less rainfall entering our reservoirs than normal and the demand for water has been higher.

“We check that our drought plan is working by using detailed water supply system models.

“These forecast how much water will be available to make sure that we will always have enough water even during the most severe droughts.”

The Met Office says Wales saw the driest July since 2006, with 52mm of average rainfall and only 53% of the rain that would be expected in that month.