Drought may prompt hosepipe ban
The Environment Agency has said a hosepipe ban may have to be enforced unless it rains heavily in England in the next fortnight.
A nationwide hosepipe ban looks set to be imposed after officials warned that emergency measures were needed to avoid a drought crisis across Britain.
Following uncommonly hot weather in the summer, the Environment Agency yesterday called on UK homeowners to be “water-wise.”
The EA said this included taking showers instead of baths and refraining from using hosepipes to water gardens or wash cars.
According to estimates, England has the lowest amount of rain since 1873.
At least two inches of rainfall were required within the next fortnight to avert a national drought, the EA claimed.
Ian Barker, head of water resources at the EA, said: “We are now at the point where, in parts of the south and east of England in particular, groundwater levels are approaching the lowest levels we have recorded.
“In some parts, springs are beginning to dry up. Farmers with shallow wells and shallow boreholes are having difficulties maintaining supplies to their houses and their farms.”
In England and Wales, rainfall levels were strikingly low. In August and September only 1.45in of rain was recorded, less than half the norm.
Water companies are prepared to reduce pressure on supplies and cuts may follow unless consumers act “water-wise.”
The warning comes after Ofwat, the water watchdog, said water rates could rise by 70 per cent over the next five years if private firms take hold of the industry.
It remains to be seen how much the increases will be if the drought spreads across the UK.
Pamela Taylor, chief executive of Water UK, which represents water firms, defended the increases. She said: ‘The industry has achieved significant success, reflected in dramatic improvements in rivers, bathing water, drinking water quality and in our capacity to disappoint cynics expecting hosepipe bans in the heatwave at the start of the month. To secure this success we need to continue to invest. We can’t let things slip.’
Water companies in the South England will meet with the EA today to discuss how best to respond to the potential crisis.
