Thousands of households in the UK are set to face a hosepipe ban amid ongoing high temperatures this summer. South West Water (SWW) announced that the ban will be enforced in various areas of Devon starting from 12pm on Tuesday, July 14.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to adhere to the restrictions immediately, which entail refraining from using hosepipes for watering gardens, filling pools, or cleaning cars, patios, or boats. The areas impacted by the ban include Tiverton, Cullompton, Bampton, Honiton, South Molton, Dunkeswell, Axminster, and Lyme Regis.
SWW’s decision comes in response to the recent heatwaves that have led to a surge in water demand, particularly in Mid Devon and parts of East Devon, amounting to approximately 5.4 million liters daily. The company has been operating its treatment facilities continuously for three weeks to meet the heightened demand.
David Harris, South West Water’s Managing Director for Water Services, highlighted the strain on the water network due to the extreme weather conditions and assured customers of their efforts to safeguard water supply. The ban on hosepipe usage is a precautionary measure to ensure water availability during the hot weather, with restrictions set to be lifted once demand normalizes.
To address the water shortage, additional tankers have been dispatched to deliver water to the region, while leak detection and repair teams have been doubled to prevent the loss of 3.5 million liters of water daily. Furthermore, water is being redirected from less affected neighboring areas to support the regions impacted by the heatwave.