Affinity issues early warning on spring 2020 hosepipe bans

Affinity Water has written to its customers to notify them of drought in its central region and to give early warning that it is considering hosepipe bans for spring 2020 if low rainfall patterns continue.

The heavily groundwater-reliant company has experienced three years of lower than average rainfall and needs “consistent, above average, rainfall throughout autumn and winter 2019/20 for water levels to recover”.

As well as informing customers what it is doing in response, Affinity called on them to reduce consumption. People in its central region, which covers Hertfordshire, west Essex and parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and North London, use on average 158 litres each per day, compared to the national average of 141 litres.

Affinity said there was a 5,000% surge in demand for the free water saving devices it offers in just 12 hours following drought warning. 3,000 orders came in.