Beat the ban

With hosepipe bans enforced during April affecting approximately 20 million people, many are asking how they can save waterandcarry on with their normal activities.  The hosepipe bans follow two particularly dry winters.  Several reservoirs are said to be desperately lowandsome water companies claim that it will take at least six months rainfall to refill them.  People that flout the bans will face fines of up to £1,000.

Although April is living up to its name with non-stop showers, the rainfall we are experiencing will do little to ease the current drought conditions and will not replenish reservoir stocks, therefore, hosepipe bans are set to stay.

One way of easing the pressure on mains water supplies, is to fit a water butt.  Installing a water butt is one of the most cost effective and efficient methods of saving water, which will not only help to ensure that gardens stay watered, but will enable householders to carry out other tasks such as washing cars and windows.  Best of all, rainwater is free, so water butts can also help to save people money too.

With the average person in England and Wales using up to 150 litres of water per day (Environment Agency, 2012), the Government is urging people to reduce their water consumptionandhas asked them to be smarter about how they use water.

Seven water authorities across Southern and Eastern England have already imposed hosepipe bans in a bid to save water.  With water shortages set to continue into at least the autumn, the Environment Agency has said that more than half of England is now under drought conditions and has added seventeen new counties to the list, including most of the South West and the Midlands.

Jonathan Straight, Chief Executive of Straight plc said,

“Water is a precious resource which shouldn’t be wasted.  It is time for us all to start taking the issue of water conservation seriously.  Reducing our water consumption is more important than ever and with more hosepipe bans expected over the summer months, this is a problem which will get worse.  Installing a water butt is simple and easy.  It’s a small change, but can make a big difference.”