Yorkshire Water announced on 12 August 2022 that it will introduce a hosepipe ban from 26 August. The company said parts of Yorkshire have seen the lowest rainfall since its records began more than 130 years ago, and that its reservoirs are around 20% lower than it would expect for the time of year.
Neil Dewis, Yorkshire Water's director of water, said the hot, dry weather means Yorkshire's rivers are running low. He said the company had been doing everything it could to avoid restrictions, but that they are now necessary as part of its drought planning. The company said it has reduced water lost from leaky pipes by 50% since 1995/6, and that it has extra field teams on a seven-day working pattern to find and fix leaks more quickly. It also said it has been balancing water stocks through its region-wide grid system, an investment made after the last hosepipe ban in 1995/6.
"Having a hosepipe ban in place also allows us to apply for drought permits from the Environment Agency, which means we can abstract more water from our rivers and reduce flows out of our reservoirs so that we can continue to provide the water our customers rely on us for."
The activities covered by the ban, as listed by the company, are:
| Activity covered by the ban1 |
|---|
| Watering a garden using a hosepipe |
| Cleaning vehicles or boats using a hosepipe |
| Watering plants with a hosepipe |
| Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool |
| Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use |
| Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe |
| Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe |
| Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe |
Yorkshire Water said people can still carry out these activities without a hosepipe by using tap water from a bucket or watering can, or by using water not sourced from taps, such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt or a private borehole. Businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe where it is directly related to a commercial purpose; the company said using a hosepipe to clean a path outside a business property, for example, would not be allowed. Blue badge holders, and those on Yorkshire Water's Priority Services register or WaterSure tariff for medical reasons, are excluded from the ban.
Why it matters for households
The ban applies to households in the area served by Yorkshire Water from 26 August 2022. It changes what households can do with a hosepipe for the listed activities, while the alternatives the company sets out (a bucket, a watering can, grey water, rainwater or a private borehole) remain available. The company has not said how long the ban will last; it said it will keep everyone updated on when it will end. The hosepipe bans guide explains how temporary use bans work, and the rules guide sets out what can and cannot be done. Households planning around stored water may find the water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist useful, and gardeners can read about watering the garden, allotment and new lawn in a hosepipe ban. The company's own reasoning is that the ban protects supplies for essential needs this year and next and limits the amount of water drawn from rivers.
What happens next
The ban takes effect on 26 August 2022. Yorkshire Water said it has been monitoring reservoir levels, weather forecasts and other environmental indicators to decide whether further measures are needed, and that it has now reached that trigger point. It said a ban in place also allows it to apply to the Environment Agency for drought permits to abstract more water from rivers and reduce flows out of reservoirs. No end date has been announced.
Sources (1)
- yorkshirewater.com, yorkshirewater.com
Hosepipe Bans and the Garden
Hosepipe Ban Rules
Past UK Droughts and Heatwaves
Hosepipe Ban Fines and Reporting
Household Guide to Drought
