South West Water is asking customers to reduce non-essential water usage across Cornwall and parts of North Devon through a Temporary Use Ban, otherwise known as a hosepipe ban, after the biggest drought since 1935 was officially declared in 8 areas across England last Friday.

The temporary use ban is the next step in the company’s published drought plan and will come into effect from Tuesday 23rd August at 00.01. Activities covered by the hosepipe ban include using hosepipes to water gardens or clean cars.

Customers can still undertake the above activities without using a hosepipe if they use tap water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from taps such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt, or a private borehole, for example.

The temporary measure will not apply to blue badge holders or those on South West Water’s priority register. Businesses and farmers are unaffected.

Announcing the ban, South West Water said it has turbo charged its efforts to detect and tackle leaks. The company, which has one of the lowest leakage levels in the sector, is deploying the latest AI and satellite technology alongside teams working 24/7 right across the region, and is helping customers reduce their leakage by offering a free find and fix repair service.

Lisa Gahan, the Director Responsible for Water Resources at South West Water, said:

“Due to the extremely hot and prolonged dry weather, we believe the right thing to do is to introduce a Temporary Use Ban, acting now in areas of the region where we are forecasting pressures on reservoirs, to protect water resources and to safeguard the environment, allowing rivers and reservoirs to recharge over the winter months.”

South West Water provides water services across the Greater South West, Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

The South West’s population has increased markedly over the last 18 months, reaching anticipated 2050 levels, as more people moved to the region in response to the pandemic.

With reservoir levels starting at circa 97% at the start of the year, the company has invested in three new reservoirs since 2007 as well as doubling the number of leak detection colleagues in the last two years, helping to find and fix around 2,000 leaks a month, keeping leakage levels as low as possible.

Around 30% of leaks in the region occur on private supplies, and South West Water is working closely with customers to detect and help repair leaks on their property, free of charge at this time.