HOSEPIPE BAN: Anglian Water say demand is down 9% since restrictions came into force

The hosepipe ban was officially introduced on Saturday, July 11, with people facing a possible £1,000 for breaching the ban.

However, Anglian Water has said that since they announced restrictions were necessary, water usage has dropped by 9 per cent.

Don Maher, Director of Customer Services at Anglian Water, said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to our customers for their support over the last few days. Since restrictions came in, we've already seen demand fall by around 9%, which shows just how much of a difference people can make. We know hosepipe restrictions can be frustrating, especially during the summer holidays, and we're grateful to customers for the support and understanding they've shown.

"Every lawn left to go brown and every watering can used instead of a hosepipe is helping protect our region's precious water resources. The response from customers has been fantastic and we're incredibly grateful for their support. While these early reductions are encouraging, conditions remain extremely challenging and we still need everyone to continue doing their bit. The more water we can save now, the more we can help protect the environment and maintain supplies through the rest of the summer.

"Everyone has a role to play during periods like this. We're continuing to invest billions of pounds in new infrastructure, reducing leakage and securing future supplies, while our customers are helping through the everyday choices they're making at home."

There have been criticisms of Anglian Water since the ban was announced – with a company van seen using a Tesco car wash in Peterborough, and a leaking pipe seen on a Market Deeping street.

Anglian Water is continuing to encourage customers to adopt simple water-saving habits, including:

Keeping a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it turns cold

Cooking pasta and vegetables in smaller pots and only using the amount of water needed

Re-using cooking or washing up water to water plants

Only running dishwashers and washing machines when they’re full

Add chlorine tablets to paddling pools so that water can be kept clean and used for longer without the need to fill it back up

Collecting rainwater for use in the garden