Hosepipe ban: Water usage alert after scorching May - Water companies 'just can’t keep up'

HOT WEATHER has hit the UK across the past few weeks, and now some Britons have received a warning from their water company, urging them to use less water this summer.

By Georgina Laud, Engagement Editor

Met Office: UK set for sunshine and ‘very warm’ conditions

Spring has been a record-breaking season this year, with a staggering provisional sunshine total of 613.2 hours across the UK. Each of the home nations has broken their spring sunshine records according to the Met Office, making for the driest spring since records began.

Hot weather is continuing into June, and some rivers which flooded earlier this year are now running at exceptionally low levels.

The Rivers Lune and Kent in north-west England are at a similar level to those seen in the droughts of 1984 and 2011.

The low level of rain May has broken records in England with parts of the north-west, central and south-east England seeing their driest May.

Only four millimetres of rain fell in south-east England; central England recorded five millimetres and north-west England 13mm.

Read More: Driving in hot weather could see motorists fined

Hosepipe ban: Dry grass, weather map and hosepipe

Hosepipe ban: Brits have been told to use less water (Image: WXCHARTS/ GETTY)

Some are wondering whether this dry spring will trigger summer hosepipe bans, with some water customers urged to lessen their usage.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We work closely with all water companies throughout the year to ensure their drought plans are up to date and activated as needed.

“At this time, most companies across the country have appropriate water reserves for this time of year.

"While dry weather since late March has led to a decline in some reservoirs, this is not unusual during a hot and dry spell, and they can recover quickly when the rain returns.”

Hosepipe ban: Met Office temperature map

Hosepipe ban: Temperatures are continuing to soar in June (Image: MET OFFICE)

Some across the UK have been experiencing lower water pressure due to the recent hot weather, and more Brits spending time at home during the lockdown.

Residents across areas of Nottinghamshire have faced water shortages or low pressure and were given an emergency supply from Severn Trent.

The water company, which supplies the entire Midlands, on Saturday set up stations in two Ashfield supermarkets, where residents could arrive and collect emergency bottles of water.

This came as Severn Trent reported a sudden increase in the amount of water being used across the region.

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The firm estimated the area's usage in May 2020 has been 300 million litres greater than usual.

In Ashfield alone, the water usage has been 40 percent higher than normal for this time of year, which in turn has lead to a more widely-affected shortage.

Elsewhere, in texts and emails sent to customers, Affinity Water urged Britons to use less water to bring water pressure back to normal levels.

Affinity supplies more than 3.6 million people in parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, the London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon and parts of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Enfield.

Hosepipe ban: Hosepipe on dry grass

Hosepipe ban: Water companies have cautioned customers about using too much water (Image: GETTY)

The company also supply water to the Tendring peninsula in Essex and the Folkestone and Dover areas of Kent.

Affinity wrote to customers and apologised for the low pressure and supply interruptions some may have experienced over the "past week or so"

The firm said: "We’re doing everything we can to keep the water coming through your taps but appreciate how frustrating this is given the hot weather. 

"Our teams are working tirelessly in an effort to get your water flowing again.

BBC Weather: Europe set for thunderstorms as temperatures drop

"In some areas we’re tankering (pumping water directly into local supplies), in others we’re rezoning (providing water using different mains). 

"We know this isn’t the first time you’ve heard from us on this issue, but we really need your help.

"In some places, our customers are using up to 40 percent more water than usual, and we just can’t keep up.

"Although we've had some beautiful sunny weather, this doesn't mean we are in a drought and there is no issue with the amount of water available."

Hosepipe ban: Hot weather forecast

Hosepipe ban: The continued hot weather and Brits being at home during lockdown has increased water usage (Image: WXCHARTS)

However, Affinity reassured customers there "is enough water to go around" and the company said they "are treating and pumping water as quickly as we can."

The firm asked customers to: "help bring pressure back to normal by working together with your community, using only what you need and avoiding any non-essential activities like filling up paddling pools, watering gardens and extra showers."

Giving tips on how best to save water, advice from Affinity Water is

  • Shorten your shower – showers use between five to 15 litres per minute depending on your shower.
  • To lessen your water usage, aim for a four-minute shower.
  • Wash your car with a bucket and sponge, which uses much less water than a hosepipe.
  • Hang up your hose – this uses as much water in an hour as the average family of four uses in a day and a half.

Bookmakers Coral now makes it as short as 1/3 (from 1/2) for there to be a hosepipe ban in the UK this summer.

The firm is offering 4/9 that this summer is the hottest since records began in the UK, while this month is 1/2 to be the hottest June ever.

Coral spokesman John Hill said: "With a dry summer on the cards, a hosepipe ban is now looking inevitable according to our betting.

"This month is getting off to a fine start and as a result, we have slashed the odds on June being a record hot month."

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