A drought was officially declared in 8 areas across England last Friday, according to South West Water, which described it as the biggest drought since 19351. The company announced a Temporary Use Ban, otherwise known as a hosepipe ban, covering Cornwall and parts of North Devon, to come into effect from Tuesday 23 August at 00.011.
South West Water said the ban is the next step in its published drought plan and asks customers to reduce non-essential water usage across the region1. Activities covered include using hosepipes to water gardens or clean cars1. The company said customers can still carry out those activities without a hosepipe by using tap water from a bucket or watering can, or water not sourced from taps such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt or a private borehole1. The measure will not apply to blue badge holders or those on South West Water's priority register, and businesses and farmers are unaffected1.
The company set out the background to the decision. It said the eight-month period from November 2021 to June 2022 was the driest in England since 1976, and that July 2022 was the driest July for England since 1935, with just 35% of its average rainfall1. It said reservoir levels started at about 97% at the start of the year, and that it has invested in three new reservoirs since 20071. South West Water said it is helping to find and fix around 2,000 leaks a month, that around 30% of leaks in the region occur on private supplies, and that it is offering a free find and fix repair service at this time1. It also said the South West's population has increased markedly over the last 18 months, reaching anticipated 2050 levels1.
Lisa Gahan, the Director Responsible for Water Resources at South West Water, said:
"Due to the extremely hot and prolonged dry weather, we believe the right thing to do is to introduce a Temporary Use Ban, acting now in areas of the region where we are forecasting pressures on reservoirs, to protect water resources and to safeguard the environment, allowing rivers and reservoirs to recharge over the winter months."
Why it matters for households
Households in Cornwall and parts of North Devon are affected from 00.01 on Tuesday 23 August1. From that date, using a hosepipe to water gardens or clean cars is covered by the ban, with the alternatives above set out by the company1. Blue badge holders and customers on South West Water's priority register are exempt, and businesses and farmers are unaffected1. The company said it is sharing water saving tips, such as taking showers instead of baths and not running the tap when brushing teeth, and that customers can access free water saving devices including shower regulators, leaky loo detectors and water butts1. It said it will keep everyone updated on when the ban will be lifted1. The declaration of drought in 8 areas was reported by South West Water; the areas themselves are not listed in its announcement1.
What happens next
The Temporary Use Ban takes effect from 00.01 on Tuesday 23 August1. South West Water said it will keep everyone updated on when the TUB will be lifted1. No end date has been reported1.
The stages by which drought is declared in England are set out in the guide to how drought is declared in England and what each stage means, and household planning is covered in the heatwaves and drought guide.
Sources (1)
- Temporary Use Ban for Cornwall and Upper Tamar Region, southwestwater.co.uk
Past UK Droughts and Heatwaves
Drought Stages in England
Why UK Summers Are Hotter
