The Temporary Use Ban restricts watering gardens, filling pools and wading pools, and washing automobiles, walls, windows, walkways, and patios.
Today, a hosepipe ban goes into effect in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The prohibition, enforced by Southern Water on Friday at 5 p.m., prohibits the use of hosepipes for watering gardens and washing automobiles, as well as filling decorative ponds and swimming pools.
This is the first limitation to be implemented in the region since 2012.
The Temporary Use Ban forbids the filling of wading pools as well as the washing of walls, windows, walkways, and patios.
South East Water has similarly declared a ban beginning August 12 for its customers in Kent and Sussex.
Pembrokeshire, Wales, will also be subject to a hosepipe restriction beginning on August 19.
Parts of England experienced their driest July since records began in 1836, following the country’s driest eight-month period since 1976, which began in November 2021.
In addition, the Met Office has warned that “very little meaningful rain” is on the horizon for drought-stricken portions of England next week, when temperatures are expected to reach the 30s.
Despite low water levels, some businesses have thus far refrained from implementing limitations; however, some have stated that they may have to apply bans if the dry weather persists.
Homeowners who have not yet been affected by restrictions are asked to refrain from using hoses to water their gardens or wash their vehicles.
Southern Water emphasized that there was no risk to the main water supply, but the ban was necessary to safeguard the environment amid one of the driest and warmest years on record.
Dr. Alison Hoyle, director of risk and compliance at Southern Water, stated, “This decision was not made lightly, and we are aware that the temporary use limit will have an impact on our consumers.”
“We are requesting that everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight do their part by supporting these measures and just consuming the water they require.”
“Nearing drought levels”
Tens of thousands of residents in Pembrokeshire will be subject to water restrictions after the county received just over 60 percent of the predicted precipitation between March and July, causing Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru) to implement a hosepipe ban on August 19.
Since 1976, according to Ian Christie, the managing director of water services, “Pembrokeshire has not had such extended dry circumstances.”
“It was not an easy choice to implement the hosepipe ban, but if we are to have enough water to get us through the rest of the summer and into the fall, then we must act now to prevent greater limitations in the future.”
The limit will affect slightly more than 2% of Welsh Water’s three million users, and the firm has no current plans to implement additional restrictions, according to a statement.
‘Perilous posture’
Nature activists have criticized water providers for waiting until “the last possible moment” to implement restrictions when rivers are in a “desperate” state, and for making last-minute statements that increase water demand before the implementation of hosepipe bans.
Mark Lloyd, chief executive officer of The Rivers Trust, stated, “Every year we reach this precarious situation, and at the last possible minute when the rivers are at their lowest, temporary use prohibitions are discussed.
“Announcing it at the last minute causes people to rush to wash their cars, fill their paddling pools, and bathe their dogs, so increasing demand before the ban’s implementation.”
This should occur before the rivers reach a dire state and there is insufficient water for wildlife.
