Drought Awareness
We are still in drought in our Central region.
We welcomed the rain in November, which was 116% of the long-term average, this means we are starting to see groundwater recovery. However, above-average rainfall will need to be sustained for the rest of the winter for the situation to continue to improve.
If groundwater levels fail to recover sufficiently, we may need to introduce temporary restrictions in 2020.
We want to be open and give you all the information you need before we look at water restrictions.
What water restrictions could look like
All water companies have a Drought Management Plan, which they agree with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It sets out how we will respond to drought: how we will manage water for you, what action we will take and when we will take it.
We are in drought. This means we may need to consider implementing temporary use ban restrictions (TUBs) for customers living in our Central region, restricting the use of water for certain activities such as:
- watering a `garden’ using a hosepipe (the term `garden’ covers things like parks, verges, sports pitches and allotments)
- cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
- watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- using a hosepipe for domestic recreational use
- filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe; and
- filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain.
- cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
- cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe or jetwash
- cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces such as astroturf using a hosepipe
This applies equally to household and non-household premises.
Exclusions
Some customers or activities would be automatically excluded from Temporary Usage Bans (TUBs). These would include customers who hold a blue badge and customers who are on our priority services register who have restricted mobility but do not have a blue badge.
If we do need to introduce a TUB in Spring 2020
There is a statutory process in place that we must follow. This is set out in the Water Industry Act 1991.
Customers will have the opportunity to give their views, ‘make representations’, about our proposals. We will consider all contact we receive. We aim to strike a balance between conserving water supplies for essential purposes, and the wider interests of the public and business communities in respect of non-essential water activities.
Tell us your views
The survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part.