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Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Hosepipes should still not be used for watering gardens across the Thames Valley and London By Ethan Gudge South of England A hosepipe ban affecting more than 10 million customers will remain in place throughout Autumn. The ban was first introduced by Thames Water on 23 July, but the firm said its reservoirs remained "far below" what was normally expected in October. It said that although recent showers had "brought a more autumnal feel", they had not reversed the region's record-breaking summer and ensuing drought.
Andrew Tucker, Thames Water's demand reduction manager, urged customers to make "small changes", such as taking shorter showers and turning off taps. He said this would "make a meaningful difference across millions of homes and businesses.". "We need everyone to keep saving water where they can, at home, at work and in the garden," he added.
The firm said September rainfall across its region was half the long-term average, while this month it had only received 1% of average monthly rainfall by 6 October. This, it said, had led to the ground being at its driest since 2001, with groundwater levels low and river flows below average. By 6 October, Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford was at 68% storage, while London's reservoir storage was at 54%.
It stressed that cooler and darker evenings as the UK heads towards winter did not mean the ongoing drought had ended. There would need to be substantial rainfall to replenish water supplies before the hosepipe ban could end, the firm added. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The water stored at Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford is below the expected level "As autumn sets in and leaves start to fall, it can be easy to think the need to save water has passed, but our water resources remain under pressure after an exceptionally dry period," Tucker said.
"We need everyone to keep saving water where they can, at home, at work and in the garden." "We're grateful to customers for the steps they have already taken to reduce demand, and the hosepipe ban remains in place while conditions recover." Under the temporary use ban, hosepipes and pressure washers should not be used for watering gardens, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning windows. Some exemptions do exist , including for agriculture and livestock, animal welfare and for customers who are deemed vulnerable by Thames Water. Get in touch Your Voice
Source: BBC
