A water company has started its first hosepipe ban in the Burnham-On-Sea area caused by drought in more than 50 years.
Bristol Water says the restriction – which bans people from using hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars or filling paddling pools – came into force at one minute past midnight on Thursday morning August 27th to protect the River Severn’s resources.
“Introducing a hosepipe ban is never a decision we take lightly, and we fully appreciate the inconvenience it will cause,” said Richard Stanbrook, director for drinking water services at Bristol Water.
This marks the first hosepipe ban in the Bristol Water area caused by drought since 1975, when a dry summer was then followed by 16 months of low rainfall.
Announcing its latest action, Bristol Water said that although the ban would not be in force until Thursday, it was asking people to follow restrictions immediately.
When the weather is as dry as it has been this summer, Bristol Water takes more than half of its supply from river sources, including the Severn via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.
However, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have applied a drought order to protect the river.
Bristol Water also pointed to warnings around El Niño, a powerful natural climate phenomenon which pushes up global temperatures and could increase the risk of extreme weather.
Richard Stanbrook added: “The water resources we depend on, particularly the River Severn, support the wildlife, habitats and species that rely on water directly or indirectly, and it’s critical we all carefully balance public water use with water needed for our natural environment to thrive.”
“We take our responsibility for preserving the water environment very seriously and we know our customers do too.”
Restrictions in full
You must not use hosepipes for non-essential purposes while the ban is in place.
This includes using a hosepipe to:
- Water your garden
- Wash your car
- Fill a paddling pool, swimming pool or hot tub
- Clean your patio or driveway
- Clean walls and windows
Water can still be used as normal for drinking, flushing toilets, washing and cooking.
You can still carry out many of your usual activities without a hosepipe, for example by using a watering can to water plants or using a bucket and sponge to wash your car.
Exceptions
Some people and some types of water use are exempt from the hosepipe ban, meaning hosepipes can still be used in these cases.
The hosepipe ban does not apply if:
- You are on the Bristol Water Priority Services Register and unable to make reasonable adjustments due to a health condition or disability
- You are on our WaterSure Plus tariff
- You are a Blue Badge holder
- You need to protect human health and safety
- You need the water for animal welfare, including pets, livestock and fish
If one of these exceptions applies to you, Bristol Water still asks you to be careful with water wherever possible, to help safeguard supplies.
