Unfortunately, due to 2010 being the driest year we've had since our rainfall records began 74 years ago, we have had no choice but to introduce a hosepipe ban for the majority of our custmers in the North West. (A postcode search is available on our home page.)
The following table explains the main restrictions of a hosepipe ban
| Washing of private vehicles with a hosepipe. This includes cars, vans, caravans, trailers and motorhomes |
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| Watering of private gardens with a hosepipe or sprinkler. This includes lawns, flower beds and ornamental gardens. |
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| Watering private allotments with a hosepipe or sprinkler. |
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| Using a watering can in the garden. |
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| Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car. |
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| Watering and cleaning animals and animal areas (ie: yards and stables) |
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| Topping up a pond |
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Please note: blue badge holders and customers who are registered disabled are exempt from the ban.
Although the ban only prevents the use of a hosepipe or sprinkler to water your garden or wash your car, we would ask our customers to consider ways to reduce any non-essential use of water at this time.
If you are a commercial customer, click here for an explanation of how the ban affects you.
How the ban improves the situation
Hosepipes and sprinklers use an incredible amount of water - left running they use more water in an hour than a family of four uses in a day. We estimate that if everyone sticks to the ban we will save the equivalent of 15 million toilet flushes a day.
When the ban will end
At this stage it is difficult to say how long the ban will last, as we need significant rainfall to replenish the reservoirs. Although the recent downpours are helping to improve the situation, reservoirs in the Pennines are still low for this time of the year. We will lift the hosepipe ban as soon as we can, when the reservoirs have recovered to a point where we are sure their storage will meet the needs of the North West.
Enforcement
We are fully aware how unpopular a hosepipe ban can be but it's an important part in our plan to maintain water supplies for essential use. That is why we are asking our customers to support the ban until our reservoir levels return to normal. However, customers who continually fail to observe these restrictions could be subject to a fine of up to £1,000.
Map showing areas affected by the ban
Latest updates
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