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Bristol Water has raised the spectre of hosepipe bans if the current dry spell continues.
At a time of year when reservoirs are normally full, the firm said current storage is only at 80 per cent. This is 5 per cent below this time last year and 17 per cent below the company’s guidelines. Winter rainfall from November to March has been the lowest since 1975/76, according to the firm.
Chew Lake and Blagdon reservoirs are both down at least five per cent on this time last year and unless there is exceptional rainfall in the next month is it unlikely these stocks will see significant improvements, said Bristol. The firm warned that would make it difficult for reservoirs to refill to a safe level for 2013.
The company said it was appealing to customers to use less water, but if those appeals did not work, “we may ultimately have to consider banning the use of hosepipes and other discretionary water uses by domestic customers”.
At 15 per cent below the level set by Ofwat, the company said it was set to achieve its lowest leakage rate yet.
By Hannah Buckley
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