Wessex introduces a hosepipe ban, as rain does little to alleviate drought

(by Karma Loveday)

Wessex Water has become the latest water company to impose a hosepipe ban – in its case, for the first time in 50 years (since the 1976 drought). It said it was also contacting larger business customers who are high water users to encourage them to avoid non-essential use. Affinity Water also last week extended the hosepipe ban active in its Central region to its Eastern region.

This follows similar moves by many other companies following the driest July in 190 years, a dry start to August, and five widespread heatwaves, which have collectively resulted in rapidly diminishing river and reservoir levels. Wessex said demand has consistently remained 30% above average levels for the time of year. It explained that this had made it difficult to move water through the network quickly enough to meet record levels of demand, and had impacted the replenishment of underground storage reservoirs. Approximately 29m people across the country now have restrictions on their use of water.

More widely last week, the multi-stakeholder National Drought Group announced it had moved to weekly meetings as dry weather persists. That was despite cooler temperatures and some intense rainfall which, while welcome, simultaneously caused isolated flash floods but did little to alter the water resource position.

Key developments as of last week were: 

• 50% of rivers were classed as notably or exceptionally low for the time of year. The Environment Agency applied to Defra for a Drought Order to reduce the amount of water companies can abstract from the River Severn, as this waterway is of particular concern. 

• Reservoir levels fell to 62.6% – 16.3% lower than to be expected for this time of year.   

• Groundwater continued its seasonal decline with levels in the Cotswold limestone aquifer now exceptionally low for the time of year.

• The EA has now recorded 226 incidents linked to drought, including algal blooms, low flows and fish deaths.  

• 288 irrigation restrictions were in place in East Anglia.