Final hosepipe ban lifted after record rainfall (From Harrow Times)

Final hosepipe ban by Veolia Water lifted after record rainfall

9:22am Monday 9th July 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

The final hosepipe ban in effect in the borough has been lifted by a water company.

Veolia Water and three other companies said they had lifted the ban, which has been in place since early April, with immediate effect following “abnormally heavy rainfall” that has deluged much of the country.

Seven water companies across southern and eastern England had brought in the hosepipe bans after two unusually dry winters left some groundwater supplies and rivers as low as in the drought year of 1976.

But Thames Water removed the restrictions last month – now known to be the wettest June since records began.

A joint statement from the four companies said they were heavily dependent on ground water supplies but these have now recovered sufficiently to enable them to lift the bans.

It said: “The companies would all like to thank their customers for complying with the restrictions and supporting their plea to use water wisely.

“This has kept demand for water well below levels normally experienced at this time of year.”

Mike Pocock, water resources manager at Veolia Water Central, said: “We would ask customers to please continue to use water wisely.

“While most welcome, this recovery in the aquifers does not remove the underlying problems caused by the drought and we are continuing to plan for the possibility of a third dry winter.”