Hosepipe ban remains despite rain

Rainfall and water-saving helps reservoirs to recover, but hosepipe ban remains

United Utilities is thanking residents across the North West for doing their bit to save water. In the month since the hosepipe ban was introduced, customers have saved a staggering 3.3 billion litres – the equivalent of 16 baths worth per household.

Meanwhile, welcome rainfall over recent weeks is helping the reservoirs to refill. In Cumbria and North Wales reservoirs have recovered very well and they are back to the levels expected for the time of year – Haweswater and Thirlmere are now at 64% and North Wales is at 77%.

But it is a very different story in the Pennines where there has not been the same amount of rainfall. These reservoirs are currently only 54% full overall, compared to 68% in a typical year. Pennine reservoirs supply around one third of the region’s water so for this reason the hosepipe ban is remaining in place in all the areas currently affected by the ban.

Dr. Richard Blackwell, United Utilities’ supply demand manager, said: "We are very grateful to our customers for their continuing efforts to save water. After the rain over the last few weeks it is easy to forget that the first seven months of the year were the driest since our records began.

"All the rain we’ve had has definitely made a difference and generally our reservoirs are in a much healthier state, apart from those in the Pennines. To ease the pressure on our Pennine sources and help them recover more quickly we are using our integrated pipe network to bring in more water from Cumbria and North Wales. We will lift the hosepipe ban as soon as we can, when the reservoirs have recovered to a point where we are sure their storage will meet the needs of the North West.”

Measures like using a dishwasher or washing machine with a full load, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, or fitting a save-a-flush device in the toilet cistern are some of the simple ways to save water.

For a free Water Savers pack contact United Utilities on 0845 746 2200 or visit www.unitedutilities.com /ends