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Anglian Water eyes business water ban amid drought
13 Aug
Summary
- Anglian Water may ban non-essential business water use if supplies decline.
- A hosepipe ban for residents has already reduced demand by approximately five percent.
- Over half of England has been declared in drought by the Environment Agency.
Anglian Water, serving seven million customers primarily in eastern England, is contemplating extending water usage restrictions to businesses. This potential ban on non-essential water use would be implemented if current supplies diminish further. Such a measure would require approval from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).
A hosepipe ban for residential customers is currently in force, which has reportedly decreased demand by approximately five percent. The Environment Agency has officially declared over half of England to be in a drought condition.
As a precautionary measure, Anglian Water is planning for possible restrictions on businesses to safeguard water resources and the environment. Similar requests, including a Drought Order and Non-Essential Use Ban, have already been submitted by Southern Water for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Farmers are already subject to restrictions on water abstraction, with 1,353 licenses affected. Anglian Water continues to monitor the situation closely, urging customers to conserve water efficiently to help prevent the escalation of restrictions.
