First hosepipe ban of the year.

[JohnH]

Yorkshire Water continue to be asleep at the wheel. A huge increase in population coupled with lack of investment (no new reservoirs since the early 1960's and a leaky outdated supply) together with massive and largely unjustified price rises equals another hosepipe ban for the rest of this year (!!) to protect supply.
I understand they need to look after what remains after the driest spring for decades, but could they not have planned ahead, this is by and large the wettest part of the country and we should be exporting it rather than being the first region in the country to 'run out'!!

Who is next?

[MartinNicklin]

It’s a disgrace! I hope Severn Trent don’t do the same. I now pay significantly more for water than I do for gas which heats my house (actually almost twice as much). They hiked my bill up by £300 this year and when I complained was told “we are still cheaper than other companies”. Yes, so if one shop charges £50 for a loaf of bread but another only charges £49, that makes it acceptable does it!!! At least with gas and electricity they contact you first to warn you. Everyone in my area was totally shocked by this scandalous rise with no warning. Whilst we expect rises in line with inflation, and for serious development and investment perhaps a bit more, this will leave many people seriously struggling. Only recently one local town was half submerged under deep water thanks to ST’s useless infrastructure. How much will we be paying for that!

[Andrew in Germany]

When I moved to this house, one of the very first things I did was to attach a 4000 liter water tank to my rain gutters and set it underground. Attached an electric pump to it and it gives me a lot of freedom in watering. It may be worth looking into, or at least increasing the capacity to the system instead of paying into the coffers of the incompetent. I know it was the smartest thing I did for my hobby.

[Paul S]

Having a rain collection system is all well and good if you actually get rain :lol:

[AndyC]

Two months ago South West Water stated on their website that "We have no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban this summer", I hope they stick to that.
The last time they imposed a hosepipe ban was 2022 when the situation got quite dire with respect to supply. The largest reservoir in west Cornwall is Stithians lake/reservoir which became almost empty
https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/2 ... ter-level/

Even though the reservoir is by no means full, it is in a lot better shape now



Fingers crossed it stays that way.

[Chad]

Andy,

Our local resevour levels ae updated twice a month here.

Chad

[charlie]

Just back from a couple of days away which included walking the dog around Roadford reservoir (main reservoir for Devon and Cornwall) which looked to me to be well stocked, certainly no beach showing.

But I haven't had to water anything yet, apart from stuff in pots

[JohnH]

You guys are fortunate, in so many ways, to be living in the Southwest.

It seems Yorkshire Water are losing 250,000,000 litres of water per day ( a conservative estimate (small c)) due to leaks and a failing infrastructure, a figure only surpassed by Thames Water.
We had pictures on local news of 1 seemingly half empty reservoir that appeared half full :lol: from a different view. Yes... great reporting!! Followed by countless roads with leaks that have been left unrepaired for weeks.
I just don't understand how Yorkshire and other water authorities are 'allowed' to pump all sorts of untreated cr*p into our rivers and along our coastline, but I would get hit with a £1000 fine if I tried to rescue a dying plant... The shareholders still need their dividends and the CEO a heavy bonus....Rant over.

Like you Charlie, I have only needed to water my potted plants and a couple of newly planted shrubs. I would just like a decent service and a fair price.

[MartinNicklin]

I totally agree with you John. There is no justification for poor water management in our country, nor ridiculous price hikes. I read today that other water authorities are likely to follow suit, especially given the current weather.
On the plus side, I saw more butterflies on my dad’s buddleias today than I’ve seen in total over the past decade and my lavender plants have been swarming with bees. It’s even a pleasure to see so many of the whites!

[Paul S]

Ironically my region's water company, Essex and Suffolk Water, are always one of the last to consider hosepipe bans despite covering the driest part of England. One of the driest years on record here was, I think, 1993, when we had just 330mm/13" of rainfall - the reservoirs emptied and we had standpipes for water. They actually made a massive investment and we now take water, via a huge pipeline, from the River Stour and, into there, from the River Ouse along its Cambridge leg. We could be heading that way this year as so far my weather station has recorded just 163mm of rain.

Water supply in this country is beyond a farce. It is probably THE most essential commodity yet we have to pay through the nose for it and even that doesn't guarantee the supply. Over the country as a whole we get ample, it is just that most people live where there is little rain and nobody lives where there is the most. It should be nationalised and the money spent on updating the infrastructure instead of lining shareholders pockets. If the current Labour lot promised that it would secure my vote. [/rant]