Customers affected by Thames Water’s hosepipe ban expressed their surprise that such a measure had not been implemented sooner, while some described it as a sensible decision. Others voiced their frustration at the utility provider, which has faced challenges in addressing leaks and has incurred fines for violating regulations related to sewage discharges and shareholder dividends.
Thames Water announced that the hosepipe ban would take effect on July 22, impacting households throughout Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire that receive water from the Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford. The restriction is set to affect over one million residents, prompted by a combination of low rainfall and rising water demand.
The temporary ban will reach approximately 1.1 million individuals in areas with postcodes starting with OX, GL, SN, RG4, RG8, and RG9. The company attributed the need for the ban to extended periods of hot weather, which have resulted in diminished water resources and increased usage, noting that consumption can surge by as much as 30% when temperatures exceed 25°C.
This development coincides with an impending questioning of Thames Water’s executives by Members of Parliament as part of an inquiry into necessary reforms in the water sector. John Gellard from Caversham, Berkshire, remarked, “Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long; the dryness has been obvious and water is incredibly valuable. People often don’t understand its significance until it’s scarce.” He also pointed out the conditions in other parts of the country.
Currently, customers of Yorkshire Water and South East Water are already under hosepipe restrictions due to similar dry conditions, affecting 5 million and 1.4 million people, respectively. Comments on Facebook pages of BBC Berkshire and BBC Oxfordshire indicated frustration over the ban, particularly in light of ongoing leaks.
“Perhaps Thames Water should focus on fixing leaks instead,” suggested one commenter, while another made a sarcastic remark about collecting water from nearby leaks. Users also criticized the company for its hefty £122.7 million fine for sewage spill rule violations and its profits paid to shareholders. “Thames Water needs to stop reallocating funds from water rates to support extravagant bonuses for executives at the expense of maintaining our infrastructure,” pointed out another user.
In May, Thames Water chose to temporarily suspend its bonus payment scheme for senior management linked to a hefty £3 billion rescue loan. Concerns about rising bills were prevalent among customers. One user questioned, “Is this just a precursor to higher charges?” while another inquired how much of a discount they might receive for being barred from using water.
Andrew Simmons from Caversham suggested, “If they invested more in their infrastructure, we wouldn’t be in this situation needing a hosepipe ban. We’ve dedicated a great deal of effort to cultivating our garden, and it would be disheartening to see it suffer and incur replacement costs.”
The regulations prohibit the use of hosepipes for various activities, including garden watering, car washing, and filling paddling pools. Mr. Simmons expressed concern about the impact on children and pets needing to cool off in the hot weather, stating, “We don’t want anyone to suffer from heat-related illness.”
Violators caught using a hosepipe during the ban could face fines of up to £1,000. “It’s crucial to conserve water, and this ban makes sense,” noted 87-year-old June Bright, who, although not personally affected as she lives in an apartment, acknowledged that it could prompt people to reconsider their water usage.
Mr. Gellard added, “I’ll switch to using watering cans and prioritize what I need, allowing the grass to turn brown for now; it will revive eventually.”
In response to rising demands and climate variations, Thames Water is working on the £2.2 billion South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) project near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, aiming to support the needs of 15 million people. The initiative, expected to occupy a space comparable to Gatwick Airport, is currently awaiting the results of a judicial review conducted at the High Court last month.
The GMB Union criticized the hosepipe ban as “shameful,” given that the company reportedly wasted 200 billion litres of water last year. A representative from Thames Water stated that while they have reduced leakage across their network to its “lowest level ever,” they recognize that further improvements are necessary.
