First hosepipe ban issued since 1995 by water company as UK heatwave continues | UK | News
A water company last implemented a new hose ban in 1995. Due to persistently hot weather and low rainfall levels, Cambridge Water has announced a temporary tornado ban for parts of Cambridgeshire.
The measures will take effect from 1am on July 17, the first time the company has imposed such restrictions in 30 years. It is expected to affect around 350,000 households, while residents who breach the tornado ban are expected to be fined up to £1,000. A Cambridge Water spokesman said: “The temporary ban will come into effect immediately and will be effective from 1am on Friday, July 17.”
The company is responsible for supplying drinking water to parts of the county including Cambridge, Ramsey, Gamlingay, Balsham and Melbourne.
Elena Karpathakis, chief executive of Cambridge Water, told the BBC: “We are doing everything possible to maintain supplies but demand for water is currently at record levels.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly; since the drought in England in 1995, we have had to impose a temporary cyclone ban for the first time in over 30 years.
“Every liter saved helps. If we each reduce our water use just a little, together we can make a significant difference.”
The company said the temporary ban “will help protect local water resources and the region’s internationally important chalk streams.”
Those who use hoses for business purposes are not included in the ban.
In the statement on Cambridge Water’s website, it was announced that “customer demand for water has been at the highest levels of the year due to dry and hot weather” since April.
The statement noted: Following one of the driest springs in recent years and exceptionally hot weather throughout the summer so far, demand for water in the Cambridge area has risen to record levels.
Customers typically use around 86 megalitres of water per day; That’s enough to fill more than a million bathrooms. In recent weeks demand has exceeded 112 megalitres per day; This is equivalent to an extra 300,000 baths every day, a 30% increase.
“It is not possible to sustain this level of demand for a long time.
