Thames lifts hosepipe ban

Following a wet October, Thames Water has removed the water restrictions imposed in the Summer but warned that reserves remain lower than average for the time of year, especially in West London.

The company said water demand reduced significantly during the temporary usage ban (TUB) that came into effect 24 August following a prolonged period of low rainfall.

For London and the Thames Valley areas, September and October received 130% of long-term average rainfall for the time of year, while November saw a months’ worth of rain fall in the first two weeks.

However, Sarah Bentley, chief executive, said the company is “not out of the woods yet”, despite storage levels returning closer to normal.

“Careful consideration has gone into our decision to remove the ban. Despite the recent rain, we still need to protect our future water supply. We need more rain throughout winter to ensure our rivers and reservoirs are fully recharged, ready for spring and summer next year,” she said.

Bentley added: “Some sites in West London remain below average, which is why we’re adopting a cautious approach and carefully monitoring water levels throughout autumn and winter.”

Restrictions in the South East, South West and Yorkshire, which began in the summer drought to protect rivers and streams from abstraction, are still place. Yorkshire was granted drought permits in October due to reservoir levels remaining below average.

Southern Water lifted usage restrictions at the beginning of the month. In Wales, Welsh Water imposed a ban in Pembrokeshire, which ended in October.