Latest news with #DaveKaye


BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Yorkshire Water hosepipe ban saves millions of gallons during heatwave
Yorkshire Water said it had received more than 100 reports of people flouting its hosepipe ban, as it thanked users for saving millions of litres over the ban, which is expected to last until winter, was introduced by Yorkshire Water on Friday, with more than 5m householders barred from using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, washing the car or filling a paddling company praised its customers after water usage dropped by about 26m gallons (100m litres) in just two Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said: "We'd like to thank customers who have put down the hosepipes over what was an extremely hot weekend." It was the first regional ban in the UK this year and comes after months of extremely hot and dry weather across Water said the region had experienced its driest and warmest spring on record, with only 6in (15cm) of rainfall between February and June - less than half of what would be expected in an average Kaye said the company understood hosepipe restrictions were "frustrating" and wanted to thank customers for "putting the hosepipes away".He said weekend usage had "decreased significantly compared to the previous heatwave" and thanked customers for using water "wisely" and continuing to report added: "We're all in this together - the vast majority of our colleagues are customers too - and we're all doing our bit at home and in the workplace to save water."Yorkshire Water reminded customers it had the "power to enforce the restrictions and we have set up a process to deal with those breaching it".The company said: "We would prefer not to have to use this and would hope customers would work with us and respect the restrictions, recognising it's been put in place to protect essential supplies." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.


ITV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- ITV News
Has a hosepipe ban been declared in your area?
Hosepipe bans have been announced for parts of the UK this week as a series of heatwaves and dry weather have led to record-breaking water demand. The UK saw its warmest spring on record this year with England experiencing its driest spring since 1893, according to the Met Office. Millions of households across the UK are affected by the latest bans but how long could they last and which areas are affected? What is a hosepipe ban? A hosepipe ban, officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB), means people will not be allowed to use a hosepipe for any reason, including activities such as: What is the penalty for using a hosepipe during the ban? Customers who ignore the ban and use their hosepipe could be prosecuted and issued a fine up to £1,000. If the water company is made aware of people breaching the conditions, they may be sent a letter or correspondence first reminding them of the ban. Which water companies have announced bans? Yorkshire Water A hosepipe ban came into force on Friday affecting around five million households in the region. You are likely to be affected if you live in: It does not affect customers who receive only wastewater services from Yorkshire Water. In June the Environment Agency officially declared a drought in the county with reservoirs currently around three-quarters of their normal levels for the time of year. Yorkshire Water's director of water, Dave Kaye, said: "Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we've been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place." South East Water The water company announced a hosepipe ban would come into force on July 18 for those living in parts of Kent and Sussex. Areas affected are: The water company said it has supplied 680 million litres of water in one day this year and is monitoring the situation in its Western region covering parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Coastal regions in Kent and Sussex such as Dover and Folkestone are not included in this ban, as they have a seperate water supplier. In a statement, South East Water said: 'Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May – with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we're all using far more water than usual. 'This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover." Thames Water No hose pipe ban in place but said it was monitoring the situation across its coverage, which includes Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Greater London. Is there exemptions? Yes you can be exempt if you are using the water for "health and safety" or medical reasons. Customers who are disabled or a blue badge holder are also exempt from the ban. Hospipes can also be used for the health or safety of animals, including fish. It can also be used by those in allotments to grow crops, but not for flowers or gardening. Contact your water provider if you think you might be exempt.


The Sun
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Snooping neighbours told NOT to grass on anyone who flouts hosepipe ban coming into force for millions today
NOSY neighbours have been warned not to report people who defy the hosepipe ban to the police. Yorkshire Water has put a hosepipe ban in place from today, July 12, whilst South East Water has announced that a ban will come into force on July 18. 1 The southern water company said that demand for drinking water has reached "record levels" due to the extended dry spell. Residents in these regions will not be permitted to use hosepipes to water their gardens, wash their cars or for any other purpose while the ban is in effect. Anyone found flouting these restrictions could receive a fine of up to £1000. Do not call 999 However, West Yorkshire Police has urged people not to call 999 if they see someone using their hosepipe. The police warned that this is because this could prevent officers from dealing with a "real emergency". The Yorkshire ban will affect five million people, and has been put in place due to the region experiencing its driest and warmest period on record. Only 15cm of rain was recorded between February and June, less than half of what would be expected in an average year. Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, revealed the restrictions are "intended to make sure we have enough supply for the essential needs of people across the region this year and next as well as making sure we are able to protect our local environment". Yorkshire Water said that if it is repeatedly told about people disobeying the ban, it will "remind them of their obligations". However, if they continue to flout the ban, the firm said it could take enforcement action. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend Exemption from the ban Businesses will still be permitted to use a hosepipe if it relates to commercial purposes. Blue badge holders and people on Yorkshire Water's priority services register will also be exempt from the restrictions. Restrictions are set to stay in place until the region has seen some rainfall but the ban could last until comes as Yorkshire reservoirs reached 55.8 per cent, 26.1 per cent lower than usual for this time of year. A spokesperson for South East Water told Kent Online of its ban: 'This situation has left South East Water with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers in both counties, affecting around 1.4 million customers. How to look after your plants in a heatwave, according to a plant doctor KELLY Dyer, the Plant Doctor at Patch Plants is warning plant lovers about the adverse affects of unseasonably strong direct sunlight, and how to best look after both your indoor and outdoor plants during a heatwave. Indoor plants: Don't mist your plants as water will evaporate and could scorch them Don't use aircon as it dries the air out Don't let plants touch glass as they could get scorched Monitor moisture levels to see if you need to increase watering Outdoor plants: Water your outside plants in the morning and evenings when it's cooler When you water your outside plants, water the soil, not the leaves If you have outdoor plants on a veranda, patio or balcony, you can keep them cooler and increase the humidity by wetting the hard surfaces Pests are on the move so regularly apply natural bug control spray to indoor and outdoor plants 'In recent weeks, demand for water has increased to the highest levels ever seen for this time of year, reaching 680 million litres on 30 June 2025. 'This is 105 million litres of water a day more than the average for summer.' When did the UK last have a hosepipe ban? Back in June 2023, South East Water implemented a hosepipe ban that affected parts of Kent and Sussex. The ban was lifted in July, after a rainy period of weather. In 2022, five water companies imposed hosepipe bans on a total of 19 million people, after a long period of hot weather. The longest hosepipe ban in the UK was in 1976, when restrictions where in place for 98 days, from June to October. An exceptionally hot summer led to extreme drought which affected most of southern England.


Sky News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
First hosepipe ban of the year comes into force - what you need to know
Why you can trust Sky News The first hosepipe ban for this year has come into effect - and more are on the way. Yorkshire Water has put restrictions in place across the region in an effort to protect water supplies. In a report earlier this year, the Environment Agency (EA) said England as a whole is facing huge public water shortages unless "urgent action" is taken. It warned that the country faces a five-billion-litre-a-day shortfall for public water supplies by 2055 due to climate change, population growth, and environmental pressures. So what areas come under the new hosepipe ban, and where else in the UK is set to have a ban? Restrictions that have come into effect Yorkshire Water's hosepipe ban - officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB) - affects any property that the company supplies with water. The company said the ban does not apply to customers who receive wastewater services from Yorkshire Water, but clean water supply from another supplier like Severn Trent. Restrictions are due to be in place until groundwater stocks are back to where they need to be. In its guidance, Yorkshire Water says it "can't say for certain" how long this will take, as it depends on when the region receives significant rainfall, returning its reservoir levels to "a situation much closer to normal". Anyone who breaches the ban without permission from the water company could be fined up to £1,000. Yorkshire Water director Dave Kaye said that by putting restrictions in place, the company can apply for drought permits from the EA. The permits allow the company to start taking more water from rivers and reduce flows out of the region's reservoirs - which are 26.1% lower than they normally would be at this time of year. What does the ban mean? The ban means customers are prohibited from using hosepipes for things like watering a garden, filling a paddling pool, cleaning paths and patios or washing a car. Instead, they are being encouraged to use a watering can or bucket. Businesses are allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose. Announcing the ban, Yorkshire Water's Mr Kaye said: "Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we've been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place." In May, Yorkshire and the northwest of England officially entered drought after the driest spring in 132 years. From February to June, Yorkshire received just 15cm of rain, less than half what is expected in an average year. Where else will there be a hosepipe ban? South East Water has announced a hosepipe ban will be put in place for its customers in Kent and Sussex from 18 July. It says it will also also "continue to monitor the situation" in the parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire that it supplies. In a statement, the company said: "Demand for drinking water in Kent and Sussex has reached record levels since May - with the ongoing warm and dry weather, we're all using far more water than usual. "This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hose pipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover. It said it had "tried everything possible to avoid these restrictions" but added: "If we don't put a hosepipe ban in place now, there's a really high risk of customers experiencing widespread issues such as low pressure or no water." The same ban was implemented by South East Water in the summers of 2022 and 2023 as well. Could more areas of the UK introduce a ban? The North East, East Anglia and the West Midlands are also experiencing prolonged dry weather. Bosses at the UK's biggest water company, Thames Water, have warned that a hosepipe ban could also be coming for its 16 million customers in the southeast of England. In a statement in July, the company said there was a "heightened concern and risk of drought" in the Thames area and that "ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand" were affecting its supplies. "Unless the situation changes significantly, we'll need to put in place usage restrictions," it warned. "This includes a hosepipe ban, to ensure taps keep running for customers' essential use." It added: "We're doing everything we can behind the scenes to protect supplies. This includes fixing leaks, managing our network, and preparing for all scenarios." 1:33 The country also experienced drought and record heatwaves in 2022 when five water companies imposed a hosepipe ban on a total of 19 million customers to ensure drinking and wastewater services were prioritised. Easy ways to cut water usage While the EA is urging water companies to manage demand and reduce water leaks, it has also issued advice to the public on how to limit their water use. Its tips include: • Shortening showers • Turning off taps when brushing teeth • Using full loads for washing machines and dishwashers • Collecting rainwater for garden use • Deleting old emails to reduce pressure on data centre servers. Water UK, the trade association for the water industry, said customers can start to help leave more water in the environment by making small changes at home and in the garden. These changes can include: • Reusing water in paddling pools • Use a scum ball in a home hot tub or spa to prevent the development of scum lines or foaming • Using a bucket to wash cars, or only washing the windscreen and mirrors on the vehicle • Keeping a jug of water in the fridge, so there is no need to run the tap until it turns cold.


Sky News
6 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
Hosepipe ban introduced in part of the UK - what you need to know
Why you can trust Sky News The first hosepipe ban for this year has come into effect. Yorkshire Water has put restrictions in force across the region in an effort to protect water supplies. In a report earlier this year, the Environment Agency (EA) said England as a whole is facing huge public water shortages unless "urgent action" is taken. It warned that the country faces a five-billion-litre-a-day shortfall for public water supplies by 2055 due to climate change, population growth, and environmental pressures. So what areas come under the new hosepipe ban, and how likely is it that it will be implemented elsewhere in the UK? Restrictions that have come into effect Yorkshire Water's hosepipe ban - officially called a Temporary Usage Ban (TUB) - affects any property that the company supplies with water. The company said the ban does not apply to customers who receive wastewater services from Yorkshire Water, but clean water supply from another supplier like Severn Trent. Restrictions are due to be in place until groundwater stocks are back to where they need to be. In its guidance, Yorkshire Water says it "can't say for certain" how long this will take, as it depends on when the region receives significant rainfall, returning its reservoir levels to "a situation much closer to normal". Anyone who breaches the ban without permission from the water company could be fined up to £1,000. Yorkshire Water director Dave Kaye said that by putting restrictions in place, the company can apply for drought permits from the EA. The permits allow the company to start taking more water from rivers and reduce flows out of the region's reservoirs - which are 26.1% lower than they normally would be at this time of year. What does the ban mean? The ban means customers are prohibited from using hosepipes for things like watering a garden, filling a paddling pool, cleaning paths and patios or washing a car. Instead, they are being encouraged to use a watering can or bucket. Businesses are allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose. Announcing the ban, Yorkshire Water's Mr Kaye said: "Introducing these restrictions is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we've been doing everything we can to avoid having to put them in place." In May, Yorkshire and the northwest of England officially entered drought after the driest spring in 132 years. From February to June, Yorkshire received just 15cm of rain, less than half what is expected in an average year. Could a ban be introduced elsewhere in the UK? The North East, East Anglia and the West Midlands are also experiencing prolonged dry weather. Bosses at the UK's biggest water company, Thames Water, have warned that a hosepipe ban could also be coming for its 16 million customers in the southeast of England. In a statement in July, the company said there was a "heightened concern and risk of drought" in the Thames area and that "ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand" were affecting its supplies. "Unless the situation changes significantly, we'll need to put in place usage restrictions," it warned. "This includes a hosepipe ban, to ensure taps keep running for customers' essential use." It added: "We're doing everything we can behind the scenes to protect supplies. This includes fixing leaks, managing our network, and preparing for all scenarios." 1:33 The last hosepipe ban before now was implemented by South East Water in June 2023, affecting people in Kent and Sussex. The country also experienced drought and record heatwaves in 2022 when five water companies imposed a hosepipe ban on a total of 19 million customers to ensure drinking and wastewater services were prioritised. Easy ways to cut water usage While the EA is urging water companies to manage demand and reduce water leaks, it has also issued advice to the public on how to limit their water use. Its tips include: • Shortening showers • Turning off taps when brushing teeth • Using full loads for washing machines and dishwashers • Collecting rainwater for garden use • Deleting old emails to reduce pressure on data centre servers. Water UK, the trade association for the water industry, said customers can start to help leave more water in the environment by making small changes at home and in the garden. These changes can include: • Reusing water in paddling pools • Use a scum ball in a home hot tub or spa to prevent the development of scum lines or foaming • Using a bucket to wash cars, or only washing the windscreen and mirrors on the vehicle • Keeping a jug of water in the fridge, so there is no need to run the tap until it turns cold.