South West Water said on 3 August 2022 that continued hot and dry weather and extremely high demand for water could force it to introduce formal restrictions in the coming weeks. The company, which supplies households across Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset and Dorset, urged customers to avoid non-essential water use while it shares water saving tips and advice.
The company described the conditions as an "unprecedented and prolonged period of hot and dry weather, alongside extremely high levels of demand"1. It said it was sharing water saving tips and advice with customers and urging everyone to think carefully about their water usage, naming hosepipe use in the garden and car washing as examples of non-essential use to avoid1.
"If the exceptional levels of demand and sustained dry weather continues we may have to make the difficult decision to introduce formal restrictions over the coming weeks to limit the pressure on resources and to protect the environment."
The announcement did not set out what form any formal restrictions would take, which areas would be affected first, or a date for a decision. Those details have not been reported. The company said any restrictions would be a "difficult decision" taken only if the current levels of demand and dry weather continue1.
Why it matters for households
Households in the South West Water supply area are affected. The company has not announced restrictions at this stage; it has said they may follow over the coming weeks if conditions do not change1. Until then, its advice is that customers think carefully about their water usage and avoid non-essential use such as hosepipes in the garden and washing cars1. The practical effect for households is that garden and car washing are the uses the company has singled out, while essential household use is not addressed in the announcement. The heatwaves and drought guide sets out how dry spells affect household supplies, and how to save water at home when supplies are low covers reducing use indoors and in the garden. Water companies publish drought plans setting out the stages they may move through; what those plans say and how households can have a say explains them. Hot weather also raises questions about drinking enough; see how much water to drink in hot weather.
What happens next
South West Water has said a decision on formal restrictions would follow only if exceptional demand and sustained dry weather continue over the coming weeks1. No date for a decision, and no list of the restrictions that might apply, has been published. Further updates are expected on the company's news pages. The water hub and the heatwaves and drought hub carry the site's wider coverage of supply and dry weather.
Sources (1)
- 3 August 2022 - Update on continued dry weather, southwestwater.co.uk
Saving Water at Home
Water Company Drought Plans
