Latest news with #waterrestrictions
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
I'm watering my lawn during the hosepipe ban but fear my neighbour seeing: I get so many letters like this, says lawyer DEAN DUNHAM. Do you know the risk you're taking? This is how your water company will find out
What will happen if I use a hose to water my garden during the hosepipe ban? Could I really be penalised and if so what's the worst that could happen? Will I only be found out if my neighbour reports me or are there other ways that the Government or water suppliers can check? D.L., By email.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
No fines for breaking hosepipe ban in last five years, Southern Water says
Southern Water has not handed out any fines for breaching the restrictions of hosepipe bans in the last five years. Following the driest spring in over 100 years and hottest June on record, a temporary use ban was put in place on Monday, July 21, with the public being told to refrain from using hosepipes for tasks such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools, or washing cars. Those who break these rules can be fined up to £1,000 by Southern Water under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. But a spokesperson for the utility company said "formal enforcement has not been required" so far, during the current ban and the previous in 2022. READ MORE: 6 rules you need to follow during Hampshire hosepipe ban to avoid £1,000 fine They said: "This year's hosepipe ban is the first since 2022, which in turn was the first in 10 years. Formal enforcement has not been required as yet. "Our priority has been on working together with our community to bring down water use, and we would like to thank our customers for their support. "We are confident this support will continue, to keep taps flowing and to protect our environment."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major concerns over Southern Water 'drought' plan which could close businesses
Major concerns have been raised over Southern Water's drought plans which could see water continue to be taken from the River Test as water levels fall, the Echo can reveal. Businesses could see sweeping restrictions, including the forced closure of certain swimming pools and car washes 'if necessary'. Major concerns have been raised on the effects the plan could have on the Test and Itchen's wildlife, with one Itchen river activist branding the move a "lethal cocktail" for wildlife. Southern Water itself was unable to rule out an 'adverse effect' on endangered salmon living in the area. Changes to Southern Water's current rules Currently, the utility company can take the equivalent of 80 million litres of water per day from the River Test, provided the overall flow of the river remains above 355 million litres per day. But the company now wants to lower this licensed limit, meaning it would be allowed to continue taking water until the flow drops to 265 million litres per day. READ MORE: 6 rules you need to follow during Hampshire hosepipe ban to avoid £1,000 fine Southern Water said they cannot simply stop taking water from the Test as it was "necessary" to ensure taps remain running, confirming to the Echo that the region is now "in drought". 'We follow a strict legal process, set by the government and regulators, to ensure we are taking the correct steps to both keep supplying water to our customers and to mitigate any negative environmental impact at the same time," a spokesperson told the Echo. Further restrictions would only be brought in if "absolutely necessary", Southern Water said, and would only be needed "if river flows fall below 355 million litres per day". Businesses could be restricted in upgraded hosepipe ban The change is part of the utility company's Drought Order, which has been submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) due to a 'threat of a serious deficiency in supplies of water'. While a hosepipe ban came into effect on Monday, it does not currently impact businesses. But part of the Drought Order means that a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) could potentially be issued, which would see businesses forced to comply with 10 hosepipe restrictions. READ MORE: No discount for hosepipe ban, Southern Water confirms Southern Water said this will only be implemented 'if necessary', but its enforcement would see car wash businesses banned from using hosepipes to clean vehicles. Mechanic vehicle washers would also not be allowed under the Drought Direction 2011, and swimming pools that are only open to paying members may have to close. 'If river levels continue to drop and a NEUB is required, further information will be provided,' a spokesperson for Southern Water said. Potential "adverse effect" on protected River Itchen Gavin Millar from Friends of the Itchen Estuary, who branded potential plans a lethal cocktail. (Image: Friends of the Itchen Estuary) An environmental report conducted by the company concluded that an adverse effect on the River Itchen's Special Area of Conservation 'cannot be discounted'. Reduced flows in the Test could impact the Itchen's salmon population, the company said. Gavin Millar sampling river water. (Image: Friends of the Itchen Estuary) Speaking on behalf of the Friends of the Itchen Estuary, Gavin Millar said the impact of Southern Water's 'excessive water extraction' are evident in low levels, elevated water temperatures and long-term declining ecology. He branded this a 'lethal cocktail' for 'critically endangered chalk stream salmon'. This very rare sub-species of Atlantic salmon is only found in six habitats, two of which are the Rivers Test and Itchen. READ MORE: Work begins on £100m pipeline to boost Southampton's water supply 'Salmon have been swimming in the waters of the Test and Itchen for hundreds of thousands of years but are now at risk of being wiped out for good,' the Test and Itchen Association's director Paul Vignaux explained. He argued Hampshire 'urgently' needs new sources of water, like the Havant Thicket reservoir which is not expected to be operational until at least 2031. 'Until then we will have a shortfall of water in the county and it's our rivers that will be picking up the slack,' Paul said. Hampshire "urgently" needs "sustainable solutions", rivers trust argues Dave Rumble, chief executive of Wessex Rivers Trust. (Image: Wessex River Trust) Dave Rumble, chief executive of Wessex Rivers Trust, agreed that the county 'urgently' needs 'sustainable solutions' to reduce reliance on taking water from rivers. 'This Drought Order highlights just how close to the edge our freshwater environment already is,' he told the Echo. A spokesperson for Southern Water said it has proposed several monitoring, mitigation, and compensation measures to offset the potential effects of the Drought Order. 'These measures are a mixture of actions that are already in place and more that will be implemented over the next year,' the spokesperson continued. 'If we need to implement a Drought Order, we would monitor and react to environmental conditions as required.'
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Water restriction in place for Strathcona County as Epcor repairs main water line
Strathcona County is asking all residents to reduce water consumption and limit outdoor water use. An emergency repair is affecting the main water line from Epcor to Strathcona County. The county is asking residents not to: Water lawns, trees and gardens; Wash vehicles, driveways or house exteriors; Do laundry or wash dishes; and Fill hot tubs or pools Residents are also asked to take five-minute showers, turn off the taps while shaving or brushing your teeth, and flush the toilet only when necessary. 'Residents can make a big difference by restricting water use,' Strathcona County utilities director Jason Casault said. 'All water conservation measures will help decrease the demand on the water system keeping more water in our reservoirs for essential use.' The restriction is expected to continue until Epcor finishes the repairs. 'The water transmission main supplying Strathcona County continues to operate and supply water as normal,' Epcor said in a statement. 'Repairs underway now are specific to a water service line that was damaged on July 24 and then isolated to avoid affecting water service to our customers in Strathcona County. We continue to complete repairs at this location and remain in contact with Strathcona County about our progress.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Restrictions in effect in Dawson Creek, B.C., as persistent drought dries up water supply
As drought persists in some parts of northeastern B.C., Dawson Creek says it is imposing restrictions to conserve drinking water starting Friday, with officials warning the city may soon have to rely solely on its reservoirs if dry conditions persist. The restrictions come as the region enters its fourth straight year of hot, dry weather, a pattern city officials trace back to the 2021 heat dome. Since then, low snowpacks and scarce rainfall have severely strained the city's only water source, the Kiskatinaw River. Officials say the current situation is likely to get worse before it gets better, and the urgency to secure a new water supply is now critical. "It's extremely concerning. Water levels are the lowest I think that we have recorded in history," said Mayor Darcy Dober. "Without a lot of moisture and water in the forecast, it's inevitable that we're not going to be able to pump out of the Kiskatinaw, and we're going to have to use our reservoirs." B.C. unveils new drought-tracking system 5 days ago As the driest summer months approach, the B.C. government has unveiled a new system to track and report drought conditions in the province. The program will show how much water a community has stored for use and how well rivers and creeks are flowing. Watershed at 'tipping point' Dawson Creek draws its drinking water from the Kiskatinaw River, which is fed by Bearhole Lake, a protected area in the eastern foothills of the Rockies. Unlike glacial-fed waters, both depend entirely on seasonal rain and snow. In Bearhole Lake, water levels have dropped more than 20 centimetres below a weir built in 2009 to capture water and replenish river flows in dry years. The Kiskatinaw itself is at historic lows not seen since 1992, according to the city. "What we're seeing now in the Kiskatinaw is a trajectory that is a bit unsettling. It is low flows, much like last year, but we're seeing it drop quicker and sooner," said Kevin Henderson, the city's chief administrative officer, who has dealt with water infrastructure issues throughout much of his 30-year career working for the city. Henderson says river levels may soon fall below the city's daily water demand, forcing Dawson Creek to begin drawing from its storage reservoirs just to meet basic needs. "We are getting to a point here in the coming days where the flows in the river will be potentially lower than what our daily demand is in the community," Henderson said. "That means we're going to start to be in a bit of a negative position where we're going to have to rely on our storage reservoirs to augment what we are unable to pump out of the river." "And if we get a cold, early shot of winter, that river could freeze and limit our ability to withdraw water," he added. "We would be reliant on our storage reservoirs all winter long." Winter scare reignited 2013 pipeline plans In January 2024, the Kiskatinaw froze solid, forcing the city to rely entirely on stored water for six weeks and implement restrictions. That revived discussions on building a new pipeline, first proposed in 2013, to tap into a new water source from either the Peace or Murray rivers. "Since then, so about 18 months, it's been our number one priority," said Dober. "We realized, at that point, that all the work that [previous] councils have done were great to get us where we were, but we were still at the point where we didn't have a reliable water source and we need that — not only for Dawson Creek, but for the [neighbouring] Village of Pouce Coupe and the Peace River Regional District. "Our water source is a reliable source for a lot of people, not just in the city." Such a project won't be easy. A pipeline from the Peace River would span some 55 kilometres, and early estimates suggest the price tag could exceed $100 million. City officials say that's not something the local tax base can carry or do alone. They've also asked the province for an exemption from a lengthy environmental assessment process, which could take two to five years to complete. "We don't have two to five years," Dober said. "We need to get this moving quick. Once we can get a permit and that approval, then we've got to figure out how we're getting it done." Restrictions begin Friday Stage 2 water restrictions go into effect July 25, limiting residential lawn watering and industrial water use, including bulk withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing. "Right now, we're not seeing a lot of industrial demand," Henderson said. "What it will do is just ensure that we don't have any of that demand come online in the coming days or weeks that would put further stress on the system." While Dawson Creek has about 200 days worth of water stored in city reservoirs, officials are cautious about drawing it down too quickly. If dry weather continues, more restrictions could follow, including shutdowns of car washes and recreational facilities like water parks. "It all depends on the weather," Henderson said. "If we have a wet fall, that certainly can help us ... If we have a very hot August and it stretches through September with no moisture, then things are likely going to get a little bit more complicated, and we're going to have to make some further decisions on conservation measures."
