Thames Water lifts hosepipe ban but Veolia keeps restrictions (From Times Series)

Thames Water lifts hosepipe ban but Veolia keeps restrictions

11:20am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Chris Hewett

Thames Water is lifting its hosepipe ban from tomorrow thanks to record rainfall in recent weeks

Thames Water is lifting its hosepipe ban from tomorrow thanks to record rainfall in recent weeks.

The UK’s biggest water company, which serves 8.8million customers including those in Potters Bar, imposed the temporary ban on April 5 following two of the driest years on record.

Despite the recent deluge, Veolia Water, which serves customers across Barnet, has kept its own restrictions in place.

Heavy downpours in April, May and over the past week have enabled Thames Water reservoirs to return to acceptable levels and the ban will be lifted after midnight tonight.

Richard Aylard, sustainability director for Thames Water, said: "We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our customers for complying with the restrictions, and for their ongoing efforts to use water wisely. They really are much appreciated.

"We are really pleased we can now lift the ban but, with groundwater levels still low and the possibility of a third successive dry winter, we still need to be careful. We don't need a ban, but we do need to ask everyone to keep on using water wisely.”

The company says the restrictions have saved 100 million litres of water per day but that its natural underground basin reserves remain low.

Veolia Water has kept its hosepipe ban in place despite admitting its reserves have risen for the first time in a year.

A representative said in a statement: “Unfortunately at present we will not be relaxing the temporary use ban further as we need to conserve our supply of water to prepare for the possibility of a third dry autumn and winter.”