13/03/2006

Thames Water announces hosepipe ban

Britain's largest water company, Thames Water, has announced that it will introduce a hosepipe ban, amid growing fears that the south east of England could face a drought this summer.

Around eight million customers in the Thames Water area will be affected by the ban, which will ban the use of hosepipes and sprinklers from April 3.

Commenting on the decision, Thames Water Chief Executive Jeremy Pelczer, said: "We are reluctant to restrict the amount of water our customers use, but the situation is serious."

The move follows the worst period of below-average rainfall in the south east of England for more than 80 years.

Five other water firms, including Southern Water and Mid Kent Water have already introduced hosepipe bans. Earlier this month, Folkestone and Dover Water Services were granted permission to install water meters in all 65,000 homes in its service area. The government said that other companies with long-term water supply concerns could consider making their own applications for water scarcity status.

The Consumer Council for Water welcomed the Thames Water ban, but said that they were concerned about leakage. Dame Yve Buckland said: "While these hosepipe bans are the result of the current drought and not caused by leakage, the company has a poor track record on containing leaks on its network, regularly missing regulatory targets over the last four years.

"The company needs to take consumers with it on water saving, and it needs to improve its current performance if consumers are going to buy its guidance on conserving supplies.

"While it is virtually impossible - and very expensive - to eradicate leakage, we want to see Thames make significant in roads into beating the targets set by the regulator to control the problem."

(KMcA/GB)


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