Is Peterborough’s hosepipe ban any closer to ending one month on? Anglia Water issues update

Anglian Water says demand has fallen by 5% since it implemented a hosepipe ban on July 11, but that water resources remain lower than expected for this time of year, with some rivers at exceptionally low levels.

The restrictions for Peterborough and much of East Anglia started at 1.01am on Saturday, July 11, due to low reservoir and river levels from prolonged dry weather.

As a result of the ban, customers should not use hosepipes for watering their gardens, washing cars, patios and boats or filling swimming and paddling pools.

Now, with one month having passed since the ban was introduced, Anglian Water says that valuable resources are being saved as a result of customer action.

An Anglian Water spokesperson told the Peterborough Telegraph: "We're incredibly grateful to our customers for the support they've shown since temporary hosepipe restrictions were introduced - which has seen demand for water fall by an initial 9%, now stabilised at around 5%.

“This is making a real difference by reducing pressure on our water resources and helping us to maintain supplies for customers.

"But as we head into the fifth heatwave of the year, conditions remain very dry and water resources, like reservoirs, rivers and groundwater levels, remain lower than we would normally expect for this time of year, with some rivers at exceptionally low levels.

“While our teams are treating and supplying more water than usual, fixing leaks around the clock and moving water around our network to meet demand, we still need customer support to help protect water supplies through the rest of the summer.”

On July 29, East Anglia was one of seven regions across England officially categorised as in drought by the Environment Agency.

Temperatures in Peterborough are expected to remain high over the coming days, with no rain forecast for at least the next two weeks.