Image description: A metal watering can pouring out water. Photo by David Ballew on Unsplash

Despite reservoirs in Yorkshire receiving record rainfall and seeing the largest weekly rise in over 30 years, Yorkshire Water’s hosepipe ban could last into the new year.

Dave Kaye, director of water for Yorkshire Water, said that while reservoir levels had risen for the first time in seven months, persistent rainfall would be required for the rest of the year before the ban could be lifted.

When asked if customers should get money back because they had been unable to use a hose since the ban came into force in July, Mr Kaye said: “No, because people can use watering cans… there’s plenty of sources.”

Yorkshire water ‘acknowledged’ anger over chief executive million-pound fee

The BBC reports that Mr Kaye acknowledged revelations about £1.3m in extra pay for the chief executive, Nicola Shaw, had “not landed well”, but insisted she was “doing a good job”.

Earlier this month, the government asked the water regulator, Ofwat, to carry out an urgent review into the payments, which were separate from her £689,000 salary.

Yorkshire Water said the payments were made by its parent company, Kelda Holdings, and noted in annual reports. However, it has relented it should have been “more transparent”.

Yorkshire Water is one of six firms banned from paying “unfair” bonuses to executives, under rules that came into force in June. And in March, it was ordered to pay £40m by the regulator Ofwat to address its “serious failures” over wastewater and sewage.

Asked by BBC Look North if he understood why customers were angry over the payments to Ms Shaw when bills were going up and the company had been fined for failing, Mr Kaye said: “Of course I can understand why people are frustrated.

“Our chief executive declined her bonus because of the poor performance we’ve had in Yorkshire.

He said the Kelda money “was a fee”, rather than a bonus, “for work that she did for stakeholders”.