Hosepipe Ban
A hosepipe ban in the summer of 2017 has become more likely following a dry period over the winter months. According to the Met Office, the six month period between October and March was the driest since 1995 and 1996. Water companies in parts of the UK are now warning that drought conditions may arise […]
The winter of 2016/2017 has been one of the driest on record so far with reservoirs lower than expected at this time of year. Underground aquifers and many rivers are also below expected levels with October 2016 to January 2017 seeing the least rain since modern records began in 1910 in the UK. Obviously this […]
December 2015 produced record rainfall and widespread flooding with the highest river levels ever seen in England. So what are the prospects for a drought or hosepipe ban in 2016? The Environment Agency has stated that rainfall has been above average for five consecutive months to the end of March. March 2016 itself was relatively […]
Despite a fairly dry April and months of below-average rainfall, Britain is unlikely to see any hosepipe ban or water restrictions during 2015. Only a third of the average rainfall for April has fallen so far and the Met Office has reduced its rain forecast. Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said: “We are over half-way […]
Following on from the UK’s wettest winter in recorded history, weather forecasters are predicting a summer heatwave and bookies have slashed their odds on a possible hosepipe ban. The Met Office have said that temperatures will rise at the end of April and continue through summer. A spokesperson said “Latest predictions for UK mean temperature […]
Due to the UK’s current heatwave it’s natural that many people are wondering about a hosepipe ban in 2013. Here we have a quick run-down of what the water companies are saying about this. For up-to-date information, see our Current Situation page. UK Water, said “People should carry on with their lives and continue to […]
Water pressure problems in parts of the Midlands has been blamed on gardeners using hosepipes and sprinklers overnight. As a result, Severn Trent Water are asking their customers not to use hosepipes and sprinklers overnight. Marcus O’Kane, water resources manager for Severn Trent said: “This weekend, in addition to what our customers would normally use, […]
Bookmaker Coral has shortened the odds of a hosepipe ban anywhere in the UK from 8/1 to 4/1 . This follows on from the current heatwave affecting Britain. Hospital admissions have soared due to relatively high temperatures and pink skin can be seen everywhere. Only Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win managed to keep us indoors for a […]
One year after hosepipe bans were introduced in many parts of the country water companies have urged customers to use water carefully, despite 2012 being the second wettest year on record. Heavy rain beginning last April and continuing almost unabated through summer, autumn and winter means reservoir and underground aquifer stocks are well above average […]
The Environment Agency has said the chance of hosepipe bans in 2013 was “extremely low”, even in drought “stress” areas. Trevor Bishop, head of water resources at the Agency, said: “We would certainly be worse than 1976. There would have been widespread environmental impact, a lot of iconic chalk streams would have run dry and […]
2012 was the second wettest on record in Britain, the Met Office has announced. After a very dry start to the year rainfall totalled 13307mm (52.4 inches). 15% higher than the average, but short of the 1337.3mm record set in 2000. Interestingly England had its wettest year since records began in 1910 but it was […]
The remaining four water companies with water restrictions in place have today ended those restrictions. South East Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water Southeast ended their hosepipe bans after months of record breaking rainfall. Anglian Water, Southern Water and Thames Water had lifted their bans in June. A statement […]
Hosepipe bans by three water companies are to be lifted this week during what forecasters have predicted will have been the wettest June on record. Restrictions will be lifted on Thursday by Anglian Water, Southern Water and Thames Water. Most reservoirs are now at least 75% full and rivers have returned to normal for the […]
At the beginning of April – after a very dry March and two unusually dry winters – water restrictions were put in place by seven water companies. At that time the water companies and governing bodies were warning of hosepipe bans being in place at least until Christmas. They also suggested this would be the […]