It is a country that is not used to running out of water. However, this year London’s traditional long green lawns have dried up and the south of England is experiencing its driest summer on record. Prolonged hot and dry weather has resulted in unusually low river and water table levels.
“My reservoir has never been so empty in 30 years (…). Nature has not given us a drop of water, apart from the beginning of summer, it is very rare in England,” Richard Stanley, a farmer in the Oxford region.
In the face of this historic drought, operator Thames Water announced the entry into force on Wednesday of water restriction measures in the capital and the Oxford region. A first in ten years.
“Hose Ban”
Some 15 million people are thus affected by this “hosepipe ban” -prohibition of water pipes- and they will no longer be able to water their garden, fill their swimming pool, clean their cars, windows or terraces with a jet of water. The measure only affects individuals: companies, in particular farmers, are exempt from it. In case of non-compliance, the British are subject to a fine of up to 1,000 pounds sterling or 1,200 euros.
Beyond the prohibitions, it is also recommended to take shorter showers or not to start the dishwasher or the washing machine if they are not full.
“It would have been more useful to redistribute the water throughout the United Kingdom through pipes, there has been no investment for years,” Gerald, a resident of the Oxford region, lashed out at the BFMTV microphone.
On the other side of the Canal, the water manager is strongly criticized for the leaks that exist in the network. For this reason, he announced that many teams were mobilized to absorb about 1,100 per week.
30 million people affected
Water UK, which represents the UK water industry, says hosepipe bans typically reduce water use by around 10%. Several other regions have already implemented similar restrictions, such as Yorkshire (north-east) or Cornwall (south-west). In total, as of this Wednesday, 30 million Britons are affected.
On August 12, a state of drought was declared in much of England, and in particular in London.
Source: BFM TV
