South West Water has announced that its ongoing hosepipe ban now includes Cornwall and parts of Devon, and that restrictions could last until December.

The company says that “our water resources across the region remain under pressure and as we go into the summer period we have taken the necessary action to safeguard supplies and break the cycle of drought following lower than average levels of rainfall last year and throughout February.

The temporary use ban now applies to customers in the Roadford supply area and came into on 25 April 2023. This is in addition to the existing hosepipe ban that is already in place for Cornwall and a small part of North Devon.”

Hosepipe ban affecting swathes of Devon could last until December | Devon | The Guardian

As restrictions on use start to come into effect, the National Drought Group has urged water companies and individuals to focus on preserving water now to get ahead of future dry spells, after the country experienced contrasting weather bouts over the past couple of months.