Thames Water lifts hosepipe ban but urges continued caution

LONDON: Thames Water, which supplies 15 million people, is lifting the hosepipe ban it imposed in the summer.

The company said that, thanks to customer support and recent wet weather, including above-average rainfall, restrictions on water use are no longer required.

When it announced the ban, Thames Water said levels in its reservoirs were “much lower than usual”. The hosepipe ban came into effect on August 24 after a drought was officially declared across most of England following the driest July for 50 years and the driest first half of the year since 1976. Thames Water thanked customers and businesses for their support in saving water, adding that demand for water reduced significantly during the ban, supporting supply and helping to keep taps flowing. This, coupled with recent heavy rain, has meant that river and reservoir levels have started to improve.

Chief executive Sarah Bentley said: “We are grateful to our customers for their support in saving water during the hosepipe ban. “Small changes can make a huge difference when it comes to preserving water and we’re thankful to all our customers for their efforts. “Careful consideration has gone into our decision to remove the ban. Despite the recent rain, we still need to protect our future water supply.”