Image description: A drak green hosepipe stored away in a garden. Image by VariousPhotography / Pixabay
Yorkshire Water is introducing a hosepipe ban affecting more than five million people, that come into effect from Friday (11 July). It marks the first hosepipe ban to be declared in the UK this year.
Yorkshire Water said the region had experienced its driest and warmest spring on record with only 15cm of rainfall between February and June – less than half of what would be expected in an average year. This means Yorkshire has officially declared drought.
The restrictions will remain in place until the region has seen significant rainfall to bring reservoirs and groundwater stocks back to where they need to be. The company has warned the restrictions may stretch into the winter but this will be kept under review.
Image description: Sulby Reservoir, A14, Isle of Man. Image by James Qualtrough / Unsplash
Ministerial visit to first new reservoir project in three decades
Water Minister, Emma Hardy MP, visited Portsmouth Water to see the latest progress on the flagship Havant Thicket Reservoir, the first major new UK reservoir in more than three decades. The project will play a vital role in providing sustainable supplies for the area, and helping protect two of Hampshire’s precious chalk streams, the River Test and River Itchen.
The government has recently fast-tracked the delivery of a series of reservoirs by granting them “nationally significant” status. Previously, Minister Hardy claimed England could face drinking water shortages within a decade unless new reservoirs are built, with climate change, the rising population, housing developments and the construction of data centres which use large amounts of water as a coolant putting intense pressure on England’s water supplies. She warned UK would face ‘water rationing like the Mediterranean’ without new reservoirs.
Once complete, the new Havant Thicket Reservoir will hold up to 8.7 billion litres of water and, under current plans, be able to supply 21 million litres per day in long periods of dry weather. This will enable a transfer of water to neighbour Southern Water, allowing them to reduce abstraction from the Test and Itchen rivers in their supply area. In addition, the new reservoir will become a green leisure hub for the area, with a visitor centre, wetland and network of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways. The costs will be funded over time by Southern Water’s water supply customer bills.