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Drought Forces Hosepipe Bans for Nearly 1 Million in Southern England
16 Jul
Summary
- Southern Water announces hosepipe ban for Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- Yorkshire already under restrictions due to low reservoir levels
- Thames Water to implement ban in parts of southern England next week
As the drought situation in southern England continues to worsen, utility companies are taking drastic measures to conserve water supplies. This week, Southern Water announced that it will be implementing a hosepipe ban for nearly 1 million customers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, effective from 9am on Monday.
The news comes as millions of households across the region are already facing water restrictions. In Yorkshire, a hosepipe ban has been in place since earlier this year, with reservoir storage levels at only 53.8%. Additionally, embattled utility Thames Water has revealed that it will be introducing a ban starting next Tuesday for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire, and some parts of Berkshire.
The Environment Agency has warned that without substantial rainfall in the coming weeks, more bans are likely to be implemented across the affected areas. Experts say the prolonged dry spell has left reservoirs and groundwater supplies dangerously low, necessitating these urgent conservation measures to ensure adequate water availability for homes and businesses.
