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| South West Water hosepipe ban extends to 390,000 more homes | |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| South West Water has extended a hosepipe ban in a bid to replenish water supplies | South West Water has extended a hosepipe ban in a bid to replenish water supplies |
| A hosepipe ban has come into force across large parts of Devon. | A hosepipe ban has come into force across large parts of Devon. |
| South West Water (SWW) said the extended restriction would help replenish water supplies at Roadford reservoir ahead of the summer. | South West Water (SWW) said the extended restriction would help replenish water supplies at Roadford reservoir ahead of the summer. |
| The utility said about 390,000 homes in Devon would be affected by the latest restriction. | The utility said about 390,000 homes in Devon would be affected by the latest restriction. |
| An initial ban, which is still in place after being introduced in August 2022, covers Cornwall and a small part of north Devon. | An initial ban, which is still in place after being introduced in August 2022, covers Cornwall and a small part of north Devon. |
| Towns and a city, including Plymouth, Barnstaple, Tavistock and Torquay, are all in the new water restriction area. | Towns and a city, including Plymouth, Barnstaple, Tavistock and Torquay, are all in the new water restriction area. |
| They join more than 250,000 households in Cornwall and north Devon already covered by the initial ban, meaning some 640,000 households are now affected. | |
| During the 2022 heatwave, the Environment Agency declared that most of England was officially in drought. | During the 2022 heatwave, the Environment Agency declared that most of England was officially in drought. |
| Now only East Anglia, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly continue to retain that status. | |
| Roadford reservoir is at about 70% capacity, according to SWW figures | Roadford reservoir is at about 70% capacity, according to SWW figures |
| The ban means households cannot use a hose for activities such as gardening or washing a car. Businesses are exempt. | The ban means households cannot use a hose for activities such as gardening or washing a car. Businesses are exempt. |
| David Harris, SWW drought and resilience director, said the ban was estimated to reduce demand by about 5%. | David Harris, SWW drought and resilience director, said the ban was estimated to reduce demand by about 5%. |
| "We understand that our customers don't like these measures... [but] it's actually the responsible thing for us to do at this time ahead of that peak summer demand," he said. | "We understand that our customers don't like these measures... [but] it's actually the responsible thing for us to do at this time ahead of that peak summer demand," he said. |
| Reservoir levels across SWW's network are reported to be 17% lower than at the same time in 2022 - some of the lowest water levels in the country - despite this March being one of the wettest on record. | Reservoir levels across SWW's network are reported to be 17% lower than at the same time in 2022 - some of the lowest water levels in the country - despite this March being one of the wettest on record. |
| Roadford reservoir, which services Devon, is at about 70% capacity, and Colliford reservoir, servicing Cornwall, is at about 60%, according to SWW's most recent figures. | Roadford reservoir, which services Devon, is at about 70% capacity, and Colliford reservoir, servicing Cornwall, is at about 60%, according to SWW's most recent figures. |
| South West Water provides water and sewerage services to Devon and Cornwall, plus small parts of Dorset and Somerset. | |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Water | Water |