Latest news with #waterusage
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Why a hosepipe ban is not needed in most of Wiltshire
While millions of people in England are being asked to limit their water usage, some areas look unlikely to get a hosepipe ban.A Thames Water ban will come into force in parts of Wiltshire on 22 July - but how is it that most neighbouring residents will be unaffected?Wessex Water, which serves most of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, as well as parts of Dorset and Gloucestershire, has not introduced a hosepipe ban since said there were a number of factors at play, including the fact 75% of its water source came from groundwater, which it said was more resilient against dry weather. It also said a 30% reduction in leakage in the past 20 years had also contributed, with the company detecting and fixing 1,200 leaks every Saynor, head of water resources and supply strategy at Wessex Water, said the combination of people opting for water meters and the reduction in leaks had put it "in a strong position this summer, despite a 12% increase in population since 2000". "Groundwater and reservoir levels are lower than average at the moment, but we are not near the record low levels of 1976," he company said it was topping up streams and rivers with 90 million litres of water a day to help with flow and safeguard also said its investment of £230m in building a water supply grid, which allowed water to be transferred to areas where it was needed most, had also Wessex Water said it still needed customers to do their bit to protect its Barden, director of environmental solutions at the company, said: "If everyone continues to work with us and save water where possible, we can keep our rivers flowing and our wildlife healthy."
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Londoners Could Soon Face Water Limits Due to Dry Weather
Hot, dry weather in London and surrounding areas means water usage might have to be restricted for Thames Water's 16 million customers, according to the supplier. The UK has already had an unusually warm start to the summer with temperatures set to climb again in the coming days. Met Office forecasts see London reaching 32C (90F) by Friday.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Residents face potential water usage restrictions after driest spring in over a century: 'Impacted our reservoir levels'
Residents learned they could have their water usage restricted in Yorkshire after the region became the second in England to enter a drought this year. England recorded its driest spring in 132 years, according to mid-June reporting from The Guardian. Hosepipe — or garden hose — bans could go into effect if conditions don't change. The last such ban in Yorkshire was issued during a drought in 2022, per the BBC. In May, Northwest England entered a drought after reservoir levels dropped significantly. Experts are concerned that the rest of the country could experience more of the same. "We had one of the driest springs on record, which has impacted our reservoir levels, meaning they are much lower than normal for this time of year," Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, told The Guardian. "Without significant rainfall in the coming months, temporary usage restrictions are a possibility." The country's Environment Agency sets protocols to help municipalities navigate dry periods. The water plan for Yorkshire includes several steps, with the first being voluntary water use restriction and the second being hose and sprinkler bans, per the BBC. With a hose ban in place, residents could be restricted from washing cars and watering gardens. Droughts can also put communities at serious risk. The dry weather has already spawned wildfires in the region, and signs of crop failures have been reported. While forms of extreme weather have always been a part of life on Earth, scientists now generally agree that human activities producing heat-trapping pollution are escalating the intensity and frequency of events like droughts. In fact, researchers have said the term "megadroughts" will soon be used more often due to the persistence and severity of such dry periods. Rising global temperatures can increase evaporation, leading to drier soil systems. Vegetation is, in turn, threatened, putting global food supplies in jeopardy, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Devastating effects on crops and livestock have led to higher food prices in some parts of the world, including those that are already experiencing food insecurity. People working in and around agriculture have also experienced hits to their livelihoods. In the United States, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration estimated in 2023 that floods and droughts were responsible for more than 20% of the economic losses caused by extreme weather events each year. Just last year, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported moderate to severe drought conditions in 49 states — the greatest number of states experiencing drought in the history of the organization. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In England, the BBC cited an Environment Agency spokesperson as saying that, as of mid-June, reservoir level drops had slowed after some rainy weather. However, area officials will continue to monitor the situation. In the U.S., the National Drought Mitigation Center has said that one of the best ways to slow drought impact is to conserve water. Among the experts' recommendations are some easy steps, like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth and repairing leaks around the house. Homeowners can also make changes outside by rewilding their yards with native plants. Native plants require less water and harsh chemicals, which helps homeowners keep money in their wallets while reducing their environmental footprint. Meanwhile, scientists are learning how to protect global food supplies from drought conditions by exploring drought-resistant crops and using technology like drones. This tech has helped identify resilient wheat strains that can survive in drier weather. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Yorkshire Water warns hosepipe ban is possible
Yorkshire Water has said that continuing warm weather has caused reservoir levels to drop further following a dry company said England's warmest June on record meant that its water stocks were fell by 2.5% over the last week, it said, to 55% - which is significantly below the average for this time of year, when they are usually at 81% capacity.A Yorkshire drought was formally announced by the Environment Agency on 12 June. Reservoir levels have declined in Yorkshire since late January because of the driest spring for 132 years, followed by England's warmest June on record. Dave Kaye, of Yorkshire Water, said last week saw a heatwave across the country and amber heat health alerts in Yorkshire, with restrictions - such as hosepipe bans - an option."The heat and dry weather over the last week have further impacted our reservoir levels," Mr Kaye said."There is some light and localised rain around on Wednesday, forecast for the rest of the week, but without significant rainfall soon, temporary usage restrictions are a possibility," he Water said typically water use increases in warm weather which affects reservoir levels further."Usage almost reached 1.5bn litres on Monday, which is 200m litres above Yorkshire Water's typical daily production," it said. "We know warm weather can lead to an increase in water usage, but we are urging customers to continue using water wisely."He said the company was "incredibly grateful" to customers trying to save water for the last few months, using water butts, bricks in cisterns and saving 'grey' water from washing up and by putting buckets in showers to water said the company was working closely with the Environment Agency and managing resources, moving water to areas that need it most. "We have 100 additional colleagues tackling leaks and ask that customers continue to report leaks to us so that we can repair them as soon as possible," he to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Companies' desperate plea to South East residents to save water
A renewed urgent plea has been issued to residents to reduce water usage, with South East Water reporting nearly 700 million litres of water was used in a single day. The company has asked customers to restrict water usage for "essential purposes only" which are drinking, washing and cooking.A spokesperson for the company says there were 16 days in a row where demand was higher than average for company said it supplied nearly one billion litres more water in the last two weeks compared to June 2022 - with Monday being the highest usage of 680 million litres in June." South East Water says it is "treating and pumping as much as it possibly can to replenish treated water storage tanks".It also advises residents to: Water plants with grey water as soil and compost is a natural filter for soap sudsUse water from dehumidifiers and tumble dryers too Collect clean, cold water while waiting for it to heat up which can be used to water the garden. 'We need your help' Southern Water said its daily demand in June this year was higher than normal - compared to its usual average of 592 million litres of water used a director for Southern Water, Tim McMahon, said the UK's "driest spring" for more than 100 years and the hot summer so far meant there was "more pressure" on water resources."We really need our customers to help us keep taps flowing during this hot weather, by using water wisely," he said."Small changes can make a real difference, like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, and letting lawns go brown."
