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| Seven water firms are introducing hosepipe bans from April 5. |
The Federation of Window Cleaners ((FWC), Ionic Systems & now the defunct APWC were all active in persuading the Government to let window cleaners carry on using their water fed pole systems during hose pipe bans. With the latest news, it's best to contact your local water provider in your area to find out your status. If you are a registered business & carry water for use in your business, then you should carry on work as normal. As always, please check with your local water company, links have been provided below for the seven water firms.
Price hike fears as hosepipe ban introduced: At present, the ban will only apply to domestic use of hosepipes for things like gardening, washing cars and windows and filling paddling pools. Businesses and other commercial operations are not affected. But there is a postcode lottery over who will be hit by the ban. It will affect the majority of customers in the region, apart from a triangular region between Aldeburgh, Great Yarmouth and Eye covered by Essex & Suffolk Water, who has confirmed it will not be introducing restrictions for now. “It’s the earliest time we have had a hosepipe ban but Essex and Suffolk are one of the driest regions in the UK,” said Prof Colbeck. “I cannot see the hosepipe ban being lifted even if it rains all over the summer unless we get a long period of persistent rain.”
The South East of England and East Anglia are officially in drought, according to the Environment Agency and DEFRA. Seven water companies within this area are affected, including Veolia Water, who supplies water to the St Albans area. As of today, 13th March 2012, Veolia Water will be applying for a Temporary Use Ban, which will come into effect from 5 April 2012. This means restrictions on the water use of all domestic customers to help conserve water and a hosepipe ban will come in to play. The ban on hosepipes will mean that they will not be able to be used domestically for gardening, cleaning cars, bikes or boats, topping up garden ponds, path or garden cleaning, or home maintenance, such as window cleaning. The use of watering cans will still be permitted. Those who choose to breach the restrictions could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.
What the ban means: At present, the ban will only apply to domestic use of hosepipes for things like gardening, washing cars and windows, running sprinklers and pressure washers, and filling paddling pools. Businesses and other commercial operations are not affected. People can still water their gardens if they use a watering can, not a hose, and can still clean their cars, provided they use a bucket. There will be a small number of exemptions “to protect jobs and livelihoods and the infirm”. People have until April 5 to contact Anglian Water to suggest they should be exempt.
A hosepipe ban is set to hit Colchester. Seven water companies in the South East, including local provider Anglian Water, announced the decision on Monday. It will affect domestic customers from Thursday, April 5, just before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Customers have been advised to water their gardens using a watering can and wash their cars from a bucket. The ban will only apply to domestic use of hosepipes for things like gardening, washing windows and filling paddling pools. Businesses and other commercial operations are not affected. The step is being taken following the driest 18 month period in more than a century.
The ban is primarily aimed at domestic users and Thames Water said commercial users, such as car washes and window cleaners, were exempt from the ban, while national and international sporting events would be similarly spared.
Water firms confirm hosepipe ban from next month: A hosepipe ban will come into force across the south east in an effort to combat the continuing drought. Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water and Veolia Water have all announced that restrictions will be imposed. A hosepipe ban will be enforced on customers just before the Easter weekend, on Thursday, April 5. "We know these restrictions will be unpopular, but they will save a lot of water," said Martin Baggs, chief executive of Thames Water."A garden sprinkler uses as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day, and when water is in short supply the needs of families must come first. "We want to encourage everyone to continue to voluntarily save as much of this precious resource as possible, so there is enough to go around all our customers, however long it stays dry," Mr Baggs added.
The Temporary Use Ban is being used to combat the effects of a severe drought in the south east, which was officially confirmed by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman on February 20. Since March 2010 the region has had 35cm less rain than normal and groundwater levels across parts of the Thames Water region are close to the lowest ever recorded. The restrictions include using a hosepipe for domestic purposes, such as watering a garden, filling pools, cleaning paths or patios and privately owned cars.
However, there are exemptions allowing those with mobility problems who hold a Blue Badge to water plants and gardens on domestic dwellings, for some commercial use such as window cleaners and car washers and for national and international sporting events. Under the terms of the ban, customers can still water their gardens and clean their cars provided they use either a watering can or a bucket. Mr Baggs added: "Anyone who willfully breaches the terms of the water-use bans can be prosecuted. And we will do that if necessary. "But we would much prefer to get results asking for people’s help, understanding and co-operation."
The Temporary Use Ban is being used to combat the effects of a severe drought in the south east, which was officially confirmed by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman on February 20. Since March 2010 the region has had 35cm less rain than normal and groundwater levels across parts of the Thames Water region are close to the lowest ever recorded. The restrictions include using a hosepipe for domestic purposes, such as watering a garden, filling pools, cleaning paths or patios and privately owned cars.
However, there are exemptions allowing those with mobility problems who hold a Blue Badge to water plants and gardens on domestic dwellings, for some commercial use such as window cleaners and car washers and for national and international sporting events. Under the terms of the ban, customers can still water their gardens and clean their cars provided they use either a watering can or a bucket. Mr Baggs added: "Anyone who willfully breaches the terms of the water-use bans can be prosecuted. And we will do that if necessary. "But we would much prefer to get results asking for people’s help, understanding and co-operation."
Hosepipe ban - Key facts and figures on the drought: Water companies across southern and eastern England are bringing in hosepipe bans in the face of drought conditions, it was announced today. Here are some key facts and figures about the potential drought, following two unusually dry winters which have left reservoirs, aquifers and rivers well below normal levels:
:: A total of seven firms are introducing water restrictions - Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East are all bringing in restrictions on water use in the drought-stricken South East and East Anglia regions.
:: Water companies across England and Wales leaked 3,365 million litres a day in 2010/11, according to Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry.
:: In 2010/11 six companies failed their leakage targets - Anglian, Dwr Cymru, Northumbrian - North East operating area, Severn Trent, Southern and Yorkshire.
:: Water UK has warned that customers are used to using 150 litres of water per day which, with industrial processes and other demands for water, leading to UK water demand of around 17.5 billion litres a day.
:: The Thames Valley and London has received below-average rainfall for 18 months of the last 23 months.
:: 2010-2011 was the third driest two-year period in the Thames Valley and London since records began 128 years ago.
:: Across East Anglia, the last six months have been the driest since records began in 1921.
:: Anglian Water is imposing its first hosepipe ban for more than 20 years, but said the move was the "most sensible and responsible action" to safeguard customer supplies this year and beyond.
:: Flows in the River Lee, which goes through Hertfordshire and north east London, are less than a quarter (24%) than the long-term average for the waterway, while the Kennet in Wiltshire has seen flows of less than a third (31%) of average levels.
:: The Portsmouth area received below average rainfall in eight of the last 12 months.
:: Significant numbers of rivers have low flows for the time of year, making it difficult for fish such as salmon and eels to migrate upstream. The current situation is therefore likely to have an impact on fish populations in a number of rivers this year.
:: The 26m deep well at Martin Down that supplies the National Nature Reserve on the Hants and Wiltshire border was dry from the beginning of July 2011 until January 2012. This is unprecedented in the National Nature Reserve's records, as the well is normally only dry between August and November, in drier years.
:: Groundwater levels Thames Valley are close to the lowest ever recorded, and many tributaries of the River Thames are running very low, particularly the River Pang, which is running at a third of average flows in Berkshire. The river, home to Wind In The Willows' Ratty, has dried up entirely upstream of Bucklebury for seven miles north to its source at Compton.
:: One of South East Water's key reservoirs at Ardingly, West Sussex, is less than half full, while Bewl Reservoir, in Kent, from which the firm takes a share of water, is at two-fifths of capacity.
:: A total of seven firms are introducing water restrictions - Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East are all bringing in restrictions on water use in the drought-stricken South East and East Anglia regions.
:: Water companies across England and Wales leaked 3,365 million litres a day in 2010/11, according to Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry.
:: In 2010/11 six companies failed their leakage targets - Anglian, Dwr Cymru, Northumbrian - North East operating area, Severn Trent, Southern and Yorkshire.
:: Water UK has warned that customers are used to using 150 litres of water per day which, with industrial processes and other demands for water, leading to UK water demand of around 17.5 billion litres a day.
:: The Thames Valley and London has received below-average rainfall for 18 months of the last 23 months.
:: 2010-2011 was the third driest two-year period in the Thames Valley and London since records began 128 years ago.
:: Across East Anglia, the last six months have been the driest since records began in 1921.
:: Anglian Water is imposing its first hosepipe ban for more than 20 years, but said the move was the "most sensible and responsible action" to safeguard customer supplies this year and beyond.
:: Flows in the River Lee, which goes through Hertfordshire and north east London, are less than a quarter (24%) than the long-term average for the waterway, while the Kennet in Wiltshire has seen flows of less than a third (31%) of average levels.
:: The Portsmouth area received below average rainfall in eight of the last 12 months.
:: Significant numbers of rivers have low flows for the time of year, making it difficult for fish such as salmon and eels to migrate upstream. The current situation is therefore likely to have an impact on fish populations in a number of rivers this year.
:: The 26m deep well at Martin Down that supplies the National Nature Reserve on the Hants and Wiltshire border was dry from the beginning of July 2011 until January 2012. This is unprecedented in the National Nature Reserve's records, as the well is normally only dry between August and November, in drier years.
:: Groundwater levels Thames Valley are close to the lowest ever recorded, and many tributaries of the River Thames are running very low, particularly the River Pang, which is running at a third of average flows in Berkshire. The river, home to Wind In The Willows' Ratty, has dried up entirely upstream of Bucklebury for seven miles north to its source at Compton.
:: One of South East Water's key reservoirs at Ardingly, West Sussex, is less than half full, while Bewl Reservoir, in Kent, from which the firm takes a share of water, is at two-fifths of capacity.
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