Hosepipe Bans Starts Thursday 5th April 2012.



Seven water companies in southern and eastern England have announced they will be introducing hosepipe bans on domestic customers from Thursday April 5th.

The ban will be effective for all customers who get their water from Anglian Water across our region. The step is being taken to combat the effects of an increasingly severe drought, following the driest 18 month period in more than a century.

Peter Simpson, Managing Director of Anglian Water, said: “This is the first time Anglian Water has imposed a hosepipe ban in more than 20 years, but we believe this is the most sensible and responsible action to take to help safeguard customer supplies for this year, next year and beyond.

“Our region has had its driest 18 months for a century, including two dry winters which have robbed us of the rainfall we need to refill rivers, reservoirs and aquifers.

“In addition to the hosepipe ban, we are asking our 4.2 million customers to help us save water at home, at work and in the garden.

Under the terms of the ban, there will be a small number of exemptions to protect jobs and livelihoods and the infirm. Customers can still water their gardens if they use a watering can not a hose, and can still clean their cars, provided they use a bucket.

“We are not telling people to stop doing what they have to, but to adapt their behaviour to reflect the severity of the situation. The message is – do what you can.

At present, the ban will only apply to domestic use of hosepipes for things like gardening, washing cars and windows and filling paddling pools. Businesses and other commercial operations are not affected.

However, Anglian Water is urging its non-domestic customers to use water sparingly.

You can’t use a hosepipe to:

• Water plants or grass
• Wash a car at home
• Run a sprinkler
• Water an allotment or vegetable garden
• Run a pressure washer
• Clean cars at a charity car wash
• Clean windows, walls, paths or patios
• Top up a private swimming pool
• Fill up a paddling pool
• Clean private leisure boats
• Fill an ornamental pond that has no fish in it
• Wash animals
• Fill children’s water toys
• Use children’s water toys in the garden (specifically games and toys that attach to the garden tap)
• Run an ornamental fountain
• Water public flower beds
• Water public sports facilities

You can use a hosepipe to:

• Clean graffiti off a public building
• Top up a public swimming pool
• Fill or top up a pond that has fish in it
• Transport rain water from a water butt
• Deal with dangerous or urgent health, safety or biosecurity issues

Link to Anglia Water for furtrher information.