Firms set to lift hosepipe bans
Three water companies signal they will lift their hosepipe bans, after seven firms across the UK put restrictions on water use in April to combat drought.
However, the restrictions were followed by record rainfall across England that month and more rain in May and June.
Anglian Water, Southern Water and Thames Water are to officially announce on Wednesday that their bans will end on Thursday.
Last week, the Environment Agency said wet weather had significantly improved river levels and reservoir stocks and reduced the risk of drought and widespread water restrictions this summer.
Hosepipe bans remain in place at South East Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water Southeast.
Richard Aylard, sustainability director for Thames Water, which has 8.8m customers in London and the Thames Valley, told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme:
“The real problem is that there are four water companies that are very heavily dependent on ground water and they need to keep their hosepipe bans in place, but those of us who are fortunate enough to have lots of surface water… we can lift the bans now.”
He added: “The most important thing is to really push on with using water efficiently. We all use more water than we need to.”
Anglian Water, which supplies customers in the east of England and Hartlepool, said a combination of factors – including the wet weather – had eased pressure on the water system.
Southern Water confirmed it was lifting its restrictions in Kent and Sussex.