Latest news with #MattHemmings
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Calls for Cumbrians to save water amid low reservoirs
United Utilities has urged Cumbrians to use water wisely during the current, prolonged dry spell Across England it has been the driest start to the year since 1956 and, as the recent warm and prolonged dry weather continues into the weekend, United Utilities is asking everyone to help use water wisely as it ramps up its own operational activities to manage water resources. The lack of rainfall has led to lower than usual reservoir levels with regional reservoir levels being 69 per cent full, compared to more than 90 per cent this time last year. The company said it is working hard behind the scenes to make the very best use of its water resources. On average, a person uses around 140 litres of water a day. Taking just one minute less in the shower will save 12 litres and one fewer load of washing will save around 40 litres. READ MORE: 'Mont Fest' in Egremont cancelled due to low ticket sales | News and Star Matt Hemmings, Chief Operating Officer at United Utilities, said: 'We have ramped up our operations as this dry spell continues to manage water resources and get water to where it is needed. 'With local reservoir levels lower than we would expect for the time of the year, we can all play our part to make sure there's enough water for people, wildlife and the environment."
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Reservoir levels falling as drought warnings issued
Water levels in reservoirs have sharply dropped as the UK endures the driest start to spring in 69 years. In the North West of England, reservoir levels sit at 69 per cent full, far below the 90 per cent at this time last year, the water company United Utilities said. Last week, the Environment Agency warned that England was facing a summer drought without sustained rainfall. It urged water companies to do more to cut leakages and help customers save water. While there are currently no hosepipe bans planned, the regulator warned that measures may have to be implemented in the months ahead. Wayoh reservoir near Bolton, in Greater Manchester, has been heavily affected by the dry weather, with United Utilities asking residents to 'help use water wisely' as it tries to make the 'very best use of its water resources'. Matt Hemmings, the company's chief operating officer, said: 'With local reservoir levels lower than we would expect for the time of the year, we can all play our part to make sure there's enough water for people, wildlife, and the environment.' Other affected reservoirs include Haweswater and Thirlmere, in the Lake District, which currently sit at 59 per cent compared to 95 per cent last year – representing a 36 per cent decrease. Water levels at Woodhead reservoir, a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire, are also extremely low following weeks of little rainfall and high temperatures. Pictures from Saturday showed the reservoir, which was constructed between 1847 and June 1877, with alarmingly low water levels. Over the last week, there was just 2mm of rain in north-east, central and eastern England, dropping to less than 1mm across the rest of the country, according to the Environment Agency. Three weeks ago, rain levels ranged from 6mm to 37mm. The agency has warned that water companies might have to implement hosepipe restrictions if the dry weather continues. Richard Thompson, the organisation's deputy director of water, said that despite record wet conditions in the past two years, recent dry weather now meant drought was a 'possibility'. He added: 'We need to be prepared. It's heartening to see more people looking to reduce their water use and we expect water companies to do more to cut leakage and roll out smart meters.' Tim McMahon, the managing director of Southern Water, previously urged households to reduce water use, telling the BBC that the South-East was drier than 'Sydney, Dallas, Marrakesh and Istanbul '. On average each person uses about 140 litres of water a day. England has seen its driest start to spring since 1956, with half the expected rainfall in April and only a quarter of the long-term average in March, Met Office figures show. As a result, farmers have had to start irrigating crops early, leading to more pressure on their on-site storage reservoirs. Wildfires have already been experienced in areas such as Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset because of the dry vegetation, the Environment Agency said.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
United Utilities in 'use less water' warning as reservoir levels drop
People in north-west England are being urged to use less water after reservoirs were found to be lower than usual. United Utilities issued the warning after finding reservoirs were currently at 69% were at more than 90% at the same time last year. While the firm said there was no drought or plans for a hosepipe ban, it added "everyone can help by seeing how water can be saved around the home and garden as the warm weather continues". There was a "medium risk" of drought if there was not enough rainfall in the coming months, the firm added. It said it was "working hard behind the scenes to make the very best use of its water resources"."This includes using its vast interconnected system of treatment works and pipes to move water from one part of the region to another to 'top up' areas that are lower and tackling leaks." United Utilities, which supplies water to about seven million people in the region, said a person used a daily average of about 140 litres, and spending less time in a shower could save 12 litres per less laundry load could save about 40 litres, it also said "a lot of this water is often lost through unintentional wastage, such as household leaks and even running taps and showers while waiting for the water to heat up".Matt Hemmings, the firm's chief operating officer, said it was investing more than £380m in the next five years to "upgrade over 925km of water network across the region with more durable and flexible pipes, built to withstand high pressure and temperature variations to protect against bursts and leaks"."At the same time, we are investing over £3.5bn in new aqueduct supplies and water treatment works that will safeguard supplies over the long-term." Water bills rose by an average of £86 for a typical household this April. The company said it intended to raise bills by an average of £31 each year from 2026 to 2030, as part of plans to invest in infrastructure to clean up dirty has received widespread criticism previously over the illegal dumping of sewage in Windermere in the Lake District. Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water company invests millions to reduce wastewater spills in county
A major project to reduce wastewater spills across the county is advancing swiftly. United Utilities' multi-million-pound investment plan aims to tackle the issue of storm overflow spills. Reports from the Environment Agency (EA) have revealed that, despite increased rainfall in 2024 and nine named storms, the company's annual event duration monitoring (EDM) indicates a 38 per cent reduction in spill duration across the county. The number of spills from storm overflows has also dropped by 22 per cent. Across the North West, the EDM submission reports a 31 per cent reduction in spill duration, with the number of spills from storm overflows falling by 20 per cent. United Utilities plans to invest more than £13 billion over the next five years in the largest ever investment in water and wastewater services in the North West. This investment aims to benefit the environment, improve the health of rivers and seas, and tackle leakage. A key part of this investment will address more than 1,100 storm overflows, including 103 in Lancashire, with an aim to reduce activations by over 60 per cent by 2030. Matt Hemmings, chief operating officer at United Utilities, stated: "Our teams right across the North West have been working extremely hard to make the improvements that people want to see benefit their local rivers, watercourses and bathing waters. "From increasing storage on sites to looking at bespoke solutions such as sustainable drainage and new innovative ways of treating wastewater to even higher standards, we are starting to see the impact our investment is making, and this is helping us make great progress in reducing spills and improving river health. "We are now embarking on the largest ever investment programme in our infrastructure that will see the biggest overhaul of the region's sewer network in a century." Early investment at several sites across Lancashire is already delivering benefits in terms of spill reduction. Read more: School and businesses closed as properties without water for NINE hours Council merger fears over pool investment plan Plans for new 101 homes on former mill site trigger town 'saturation' fears New storage tanks, sustainable drainage solutions, and significant network enhancements have all been implemented. Burnley has seen a £77 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment works, which has reduced the number of times storm overflows are operated and enhanced water quality in the River Calder. The major overhaul of the facility introduced new treatment processes and additional stormwater storage. United Utilities aims to ensure that each storm overflow operates less than 10 times a year by 2050.
