Hosepipe ban lifted

United Utilities logo

North West England water company United Utilities has announced that its hosepipe ban is to be lifted today (Thursday, 19 August), as recent rainfall has allowed water resources to recover sufficiently.

However, the company is still asking customers to use water wisely.

The ban was imposed on July 9 after the driest December to June spell to hit the region in more than 70 years. Significant rainfall from mid July to mid August has allowed the company to announce an end to the ban - despite Pennine reservoir levels remaining below average for the time of year.

Richard Blackwell, United Utilities' supply demand manager, said: "Reservoir levels have risen in recent weeks in Cumbria and North Wales and have stabilised in the Pennines with the rainfall over the last month. We now have sufficient reservoir storage overall to be able to lift the ban. This will come as welcome news to our millions of customers, who have been extremely patient and conscientious in their water usage.

"Our key reservoirs in Cumbria and North Wales are now at the kind of levels we would expect for the time of year. Pennine reservoir levels remain below normal, with some still at very low levels, but we are now able to compensate for this shortfall by moving more water from Cumbria and North Wales using our integrated pipe network. Overall, the situation is much improved and the ban is no longer required to safeguard essential supplies.

"We'd like to thank customers for bearing with us since July 9. Although the ban is over, some of our reservoirs are still very low, so it's important that people continue to do what they can to save water around the home and garden. Being water wise also helps protect the environment, whatever the weather."

The company estimates that since the ban was introduced its customers saved a total of 4 billion litres of water – that’s enough to provide more than 230 toilet flushes per household.

United Utilities still has a drought permit in place for Longdendale Valley, near Glossop, allowing the company to reduce the amount of water released by its Longdendale reservoir system into the River Etherow. The company has yet to make use of the permit, and current reservoir levels mean that it is very unlikely to do so. The company does not intend to apply for any further drought permits.