Latest news with #hosepipebans
The Independent
21 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
No households fined for breaking hosepipe bans during recent droughts, water firms admit
Major water companies in England have not issued a single fine to residents for breaking hosepipe bans over the last five years, The Independent can reveal. Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and South West Water have confirmed they did not issue any fines, which can be as high as £1,000, despite having the legal power to do so for more than a decade. All four companies have introduced hosepipe bans at different times since 2020, including the heatwaves of 2022 and 2023, which left millions under restrictions. This year, Yorkshire Water, South East Water, and Southern Water have all imposed bans to curb non-essential use as England battles exceptionally dry weather. Under current rules, householders who breach a ban can be fined up to £1,000 if prosecuted, and companies also have powers to issue £100 fixed penalty notices. Despite high-profile campaigns urging households to save water, enforcement has relied entirely on public goodwill rather than financial penalties. Campaigners have told The Independent that leaking pipes, poor planning and inaction by water companies pose a far greater threat to supplies than people watering their gardens. James Wallace, CEO of campaign group River Action, said it was wrong to focus on 'threatening customers with £1,000 fines for watering their gardens' when water companies themselves spill billions of litres every day and face few consequences. 'Voluntary measures and public awareness aren't enough,' he warned, calling for 'real enforcement, aimed at water companies, and bold structural reform' to tackle worsening drought risks. 'No new reservoirs have been built in over 30 years, despite clear climate warnings about worsening droughts,' Mr Wallace added. Paul de Zylva, sustainability analyst at Friends of the Earth, said that hosepipe bans are a 'sticking plaster solution to a problem that is only going to get worse'. 'Recent heatwaves only add to drought conditions, making it harder for everyone – not least hospitals, care homes, farmers and transport operators – to cope,' he added. It comes as the government announced plans to scrap the regulator Ofwat in an overhaul of regulation for the troubled water sector. The final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, made 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments aimed at turning around the industry, which has faced public fury over pollution, soaring bills, shareholder payouts and executive bonuses. The number of serious pollution incidents caused by water firms across England also rose by 60 per cent in 2024 compared with the previous year, the Environment Agency said. Three water firms were responsible for 81 per cent of these serious incidents – Thames Water with 33, Southern Water with 15, and Yorkshire Water with 13. It attributed the rise in incidents last year to persistent underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance, and reduced resilience because of the impacts of climate change. Southern Water said that during its 2022 hosepipe ban, most customers complied voluntarily. The company said it focused on explaining the reasons for the ban and encouraging people to comply, viewing enforcement as the 'very last step'. Yorkshire Water also confirmed no fines had been issued. A spokesperson said: 'Whilst we do have the power to enforce the restrictions and have a process to deal with those breaching it, we would prefer not to have to use this and would hope customers would work with us and respect the restrictions, recognising it's been put in place to protect essential supplies. The response so far has been brilliant, and we've seen demand coming down.' South West Water and Thames Water both confirmed they did not fine customers for breaching restrictions. Nicci Russell, chief executive of water efficiency charity Waterwise, said: 'At Waterwise we are clear that the UK is running out of water, and that this will affect every aspect of our lives.' She added that even if water companies fixed all their leaks, 'there would still be a big gap between the water we have and the water we need.' Ms Russell said hosepipe bans remain a legitimate tool to manage demand but argued the most effective solution is for everyone to 'waste less water, now,' alongside considering whether ministers should introduce stronger legal powers over time. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) officials said hosepipe bans typically reduce water use by around three to five per cent, helping supplies last longer and protecting the environment. Defra encourages households to take steps to save water, such as fixing leaky toilets, installing water butts and reusing leftover water for plants.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Water industry rich list revealed: how bosses were paid £278m in 11 years as sector faces overhaul amid concern over soaring bills and sewage leaks
Fat cat water company bosses have earned £278m over more than a decade, as hosepipe bans multiply and an independent commission has today called for an overhaul of the privatised industry. Executive pay figures obtained by the Daily Mail show salaries, pensions, benefits and bonuses earned by 57 chief executives and chief finance officers at Britain's 11 major water firms over 11 financial years from 2015. Over a tenth of the overall sum was paid to one CEO alone - Severn Trent's Liv Garfield, who received nearly £30.9m. And, of the four water firms which have brought in hosepipe bans after the driest spring in 123 years, Yorkshire Water paid £15m to successive CEOs Richard Flint and Liz Barber. No executives at struggling Thames Water, which is implementing restrictions in four areas and last week announced losses of £1.65bn in the year to March, made the top 10 of the 'rich list', compiled by the Sewage Campaign Network from public annual reports. This is because of a regular change of bosses through the 'extremely stressed' company's boardroom – but over £26m was paid to 11 different executives. At Southern Water, which announced a hosepipe ban on Wednesday, nearly £18.7m was paid to eight executives. Its biggest earner, former boss Ian McAuley, received over £6m. Mr McAuley also received £1.4m while chief executive of South West Water in 2015-16. The company's latest annual report published last week showed it nearly doubled the current chief executive's pay package last year despite a government ban on bonuses. Lawrence Gosden received £1.4m – comprising of £691,000 under a 'two-year long-term incentive plan' (LTIP), on top of fixed pay of £687,000. The company insisted the extra pay was not a bonus. The 'staggering' figures can be revealed as Environment secretary Steve Reed is to promise 'root and branch' reform and replace existing regulator Ofwat, admitting current regulation 'has failed customers and the environment'. In his response to today's Independent Water Commission's report, Reed is to pledge customers will 'never again face huge shock hikes' to their bills after average rises of 25pc last year. Private water companies, many owned by foreign investors and private equity firms, have come under sustained criticism for performance on leaks and sewage dumping as bills soar. Serious pollution incidents rose by 60pc last year. Prof Becky Malby, of the Sewage Campaign Network, said of the pay figures: 'It's unbelievable that a service which is a monopoly industry is creaming off this much for its chief executives and chief financial officers. 'The outgoing chief executive of the NHS earned £270,000 a year when it is a complex and difficult organisation to run.' Meanwhile, Lib Dem environment spokesman Tim Farron said: 'These figures are staggering and people will be rightly furious that these execs are lining their pockets as water bills skyrocket and their companies destroy our local environment with filthy sewage.' The Sewage Campaign Network's rich list can be as the Independent Water Commission, headed retired civil servant Sir Jon Cunliffe, published a scathing report, recommending new legislation and tighter regulation but stopping short of taking the industry back into public ownership. The Sewage Campaign Network - backed by academics and campaigners including Feargal Sharkey - has put together its own 'People's Commission' report into the water industry, calling for measures including renationalisation. The campaign said Sir Jon's report 'fails to deliver an ambitious transformation of water' and that 'fundamental problems' remain. It said: 'Privatisation is more expensive than public ownership - debt is much more expensive, servicing overseas financial interests is expensive. Currently 21-53% of our water bills are used to pay off water company debt.' The campaign added: 'No amount of restructuring regulation will enable government to manage the water companies' primary motive which is profit, and financial return to shareholders.' Last week, it emerged the water industry watchdog warned six firms not to raise directors' salaries to get around a sweeping bonus ban. Ofwat said it would be 'watching closely' after barring United Utilities, Thames Water, Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water from making performance-related payouts. Since they were privatised debt-free in 1989, the utilities have paid out £85 billion in dividends and are now drowning in £60billion of debt, while household bills have almost doubled in real terms. Customers face hikes of up to 53 per cent before inflation over the next five years to pay for infrastructure repairs. In a speech in February, Sir Jon said: 'It would be very difficult to say now that we have a water sector in which the public have trust.' A Water UK spokesperson, representing the private water firms, said: 'Executive pay in the water industry is independently determined by remuneration committees, which abide by laws and regulations. 'Water companies are focused on investing a record £104 billion over the next five years to secure our water supplies, end sewage entering our rivers and seas and support economic growth.' Who's who... the highest-earning water bosses as revealed by campaigners Liv Garfield, chief executive of Severn Trent Water since 2014, has earned £30.9m since 2015. The 49-yar-old became the youngest female CEO of a FTSE-100 company when she was appointed to the top job at Severn Trent in 2014, aged 38. She received a CBE for services to the water industry in 2020 – the same year Environment Agency figures showed the equivalent of 64 years' worth of raw sewage was dumped into rivers and streams. Ms Garfield was previously an executive at BT, where we CEO of its Openreach division between 2011 and 2013. In 2013, Fortune Magazine identified her as 'one of the world's fastest-rising corporate stars'. Steve Mogford, 69, CEO United Utilities 2011-2023, earned £21.3m over eight years between 2015 and 2023. Mr Mogford was previously a Chief Operating Officer for Programmes at BAE Systems plc, where he worked for 30 years. He now holds roles including a partial return to defence as a senior independent director of military supplier QinetiQ Group. Peter Simpson, 58, CEO Anglian Water since 2013, earned £15.8m since 2015. Mr Simpson worked his way up within the company having been an executive there for the last 21 years, being COO from 2004 and appointed managing director in 2010. He is a founding member and co-chair of the Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group in the UK and was a chairman of industry body Water UK in 2012/13. James Bowling, 56, CFO Severn Trent 2015 to retirement in 2023, earned £12m since 2015. Has a background in motoring having spent nine years at Ford. Mr Bowling was then at pharmaceutical company Shire PLC before moving to Severn Trent. Susan Davy, 56, chief executive South West Water for last five years, previously chief financial officer, earned £11.1m in the two roles. Ms Davy announced her retirement earlier this month. Details of her earnings come as South West Water is set to be forced to spend £24m under an 'enforcement package' imposed by regulator Ofwat, mostly to improve storm overflows to reduce sewage spills. View the Rich List in full at
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
UK weather: Amber warning as thunderstorms to bring flash flooding
Parts of the UK are braced for potentially dangerous flash flooding as thunderstorms and torrential rain are set arrive over the Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for south-east England as more than a month's worth of rain is forecast to fall in a matter of hours on Saturday morning. It says fast-flowing and deep floodwaters are likely, leading to road and transport disruption, as well as power torrential downpours come days after a third UK heatwave of the year that parched swathes of the UK and led to several hosepipe bans being declared. This will make flooding more likely and severe as the dry ground will not be able to absorb as much water. Why drought can lead to dangerous flooding The amber warning covers a stretch of the south coast, London and Cambridge, and is in force from 04:00 BST to 11:00 on 20 and 40mm of rain could fall within an hour in this area, the Met Office has warned, which could accumulate to 70-100mm in just a few hours. It said homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, which will happen "quickly", while this amount of surface water will make driving difficult and may lead to road strikes, hail and strong winds may also cause train and bus weather warnings will cover the rest of eastern, central and northern England and a portion of eastern Scotland. A yellow warning is already in force for parts of eastern warnings indicated there is an increased chance severe weather could affect people's day-to-day lives, including a potential danger to life. Yellow warnings are less last amber warning over London was in January 2024, when Storm Henk hit parts of central England and Wales, according to the Met arriving on Friday night, the storm is forecast to move inland, pushing northwards across England on Saturday morning before arriving in Scotland by warnings for rain cover parts of England and Scotland on Sunday and Monday as residual parts of the storm weeks heatwave brought travel disruption, a number of water-related deaths and hosepipe bans being declared for millions living in Yorkshire, Kent and might think a heavy dose of rainfall would help reduce these drought conditions - but because the rain will be very heavy in localised areas, it will run off the dry, baked earth rapidly, perhaps overwhelming local sewers and waterways.A substantial recovery in reservoir and groundwater aquifer levels would require a more sustained spell of wet hosepipe ban is expected to last until following a heatwave in the summer of 2022 brought flash flooding to London and the surrounding areas, flooding roads and Tube stations. The rainfall also caused cancellations and delays at Gatwick Airport.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Can you water the garden during a hosepipe ban?
Temperatures in the UK are set to soar again on Friday, with a peak of 30C forecast in some areas and hosepipe bans introduced in many parts of the country. Much of the country has experienced sweltering weather in recent weeks, with many areas meeting heatwave conditions as temperature surged to over 34C earlier this month. While recent days have seen a dip in warmth, the very hot weather is set to return on Friday, but the Met Office is not predicting a heatwave this time. In fact, after Friday, things get more unsettled, with heavy rain and thunderstorms set to sweep in over the weekend. Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: 'We're starting to see south westerly winds come in, that's bringing in hotter and more humid conditions, particularly in southern areas, we are going to see temperatures climbing again. 'There is the potential for 30C around the London region by the time we reach Friday, other areas around south east England will push towards high 20s... Friday is looking to be the peak of the current hot spell. 'This heat is not going to be as widespread as what we've just come out of, areas to the north aren't going to be seeing the same highs." Despite a chance of heavy showers over the weekend, hosepipe bans will remain, while others are set to come into force over the next few days. What is a heatwave? According to the Met Office, a heatwave is classed defined as a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. This threshold varies depending on the county in England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland has its own single threshold. Low pressure has now returned to the British Isles, with weather fronts expected to bring storms and showers over the weekend ⛈️But it will still feel warm, with some mild and muggy nights on the way 🌡️ — Met Office (@metoffice) July 16, 2025 For example, the threshold in London is 28C, while on the south east coast it is 27C. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the threshold is 25C. Where are the hosepipe bans? Yorkshire Water was the first major water company to bring in a recent hosepipe ban, which came into effect last Friday. South East Water then announced a hosepipe ban in Kent and Sussex from Friday, and Thames Water is bringing in a ban from next Tuesday for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire. On Wednesday, Southern Water became the latest company to bring in a hosepipe ban, to protect rare chalk stream habitat. The company said restrictions on hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools or washing cars would come in for households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday. Am I allowed to water my garden during a hosepipe ban? The short answer is yes – but, as the name makes clear, you should not water your garden with a hosepipe during a ban. Hosepipe bans are officially known as temporary use bans, or TUBs – the rules of which are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991. A TUB prohibits people from using a hosepipe that is connected to their mains water supply. Their purpose is to reduce demand for water when supplies are low. As a result, you should not water your garden with a hosepipe and you could risk fines of up to £1,000 if you ignore a ban. However, you can still use a watering can, a bucket, or pots and pans to water your plants. How can I conserve water and look after my plants? There are some very simple things you can do to keep your plants watered during periods of extreme heat or hosepipe bans. One tip is to keep the water from cooking pasta and pour it (once cold) onto your plants. You can also use a water butt, which collects rainwater that can be used to water the garden. Watering the base of your plants can also reduce evaporation and ensures water reaches the roots – where it is most needed, reducing the need for frequent feeding. Watering early in the morning, when temperatures are lower, allows plants to absorb water, while a watering can ensures more focused watering and reduces water waste from using a hosepipe. Weeds can also compete for water with the plants you actually want around so pulling them out can make sure the water goes where you want it to go.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Rain's on the way... just in time for the hosepipe ban! England braces for much-needed downpours this weekend as Met Office issues 21-hour thunderstorm warning
England is braced for some much-needed heavy rain this weekend as the Met Office imposed a 21-hour thunderstorm warning - just as a series of hosepipe bans begin. Forecasters issued the yellow 'danger to life' alert from 9pm tomorrow until 6pm on Saturday amid concerns over possible flooding, power cuts and travel disruption. Temperatures are set to reach 30C (86F) in some parts of the UK today and tomorrow as conditions remain humid before the unsettled weekend weather sweeps in. Torrential downpours could then cause difficult driving conditions and road closures, while trains and buses could be cancelled by flooded roads or lightning strikes. Power cuts could also impact homes and businesses - with flash flooding, hail or strong winds potentially causing damage to buildings in the worst-hit areas. The Met Office added that 'fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life' and warned 'communities might become cut off if roads flood'. Most of England was covered by the warning apart from the South West, with thundery rain set to reach the south of the warning area on Friday night. This will then spread north to affect much of England through Saturday – with up to 30mm (1.2in) within an hour and up to 90mm (3.5in) in less than three hours possible. Rain is expected to clear from the south of the area by early Saturday afternoon, although forecasters expect further thunderstorms to develop in that area. Forecasters said 'frequent lightning, gusty winds and large hail' are also likely, and urged anyone in an area at risk of flash flooding to prepare an emergency kit. It will follow a separate yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland running from 11am today until 8pm today; while there is a similar alert for North East England from 12pm tomorrow until 8pm tomorrow – before the wider warning begins. Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said temperatures will climb to as high as 29C today, before peaking at a potential 30C in London tomorrow. Then the unsettled weather is forecast to spread across more of the UK over the weekend, as temperatures start to slowly drop. Mr Vautrey said: 'We're starting to see south westerly winds come in, that's bringing in hotter and more humid conditions, particularly in southern areas, we are going to see temperatures climbing again. 'There is the potential for 30C around the London region by the time we reach Friday, other areas around south east England will push towards high 20s. 'Average temperatures in July for the south east is around 23C, so it will be about 5C above average. 'On Thursday it will probably creep up to around 28C in London, maybe 29C in more central England. Friday is looking to be the peak of the current hot spell. 'This heat is not going to be as widespread as what we've just come out of, areas to the north aren't going to be seeing the same highs. 'The heat we had last time was home grown, it wasn't that humid, but because this heat is coming in from the south westerly direction, it is more humid. It's going to be feeling more sticky.' The weather is set to turn unsettled through the weekend, with a chance of heavy showers and thunderstorms across the UK. Weekend high temperatures are still expected to reach 28C or 29C on Saturday and 25C on Sunday. There is a 'small probability' a localised area manages to get the three-day category for a heatwave this week, but for most people it will be more of a 'hot spell', Mr Vautrey added. It comes as Southern Water yesterday became the latest company to bring in a hosepipe ban, to protect rare chalk stream habitat, as England battles exceptionally dry weather. The company said restrictions on hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools or washing cars would come in for households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday. It is the latest announcement by water companies bringing in hosepipe bans in response to the driest start to the year since 1976 for England. Rainfall across England was 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said. Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in drought status. Yorkshire Water became the first major water company to bring in a hosepipe ban which came into effect last Friday. South East Water has announced a hosepipe ban in Kent and Sussex from tomorrow, and Thames Water is bringing in a ban from next Tuesday for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire.
