Fresh hosepipe ban for four UK areas as people warned of eleven strict rules

Fresh hosepipe ban for four UK areas as people warned of eleven strict rules The ban will come into force from 10am on Sunday, 19 July, affecting around 33,000 properties across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire A new hosepipe ban has been announced for four areas of the UK in the wake of the latest scorching heatwave - and people will need to follow 11 strict rules. Welsh Water has said the prohibition will apply to mid and south Ceredigion, along with parts of north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire, following an extended period of "exceptionally high demand" for drinking water. The company has issued a public notice confirming that temporary restrictions, also referred to as a temporary use ban, will take effect from 10am tomorrow (Sunday, July 19), in a bid to "safeguard essential water supplies". This follows demand in the affected region remaining considerably above average throughout the recent bout of hot, dry weather, placing strain on treated water storage within the local network, the company says. The company adds that there have been several weeks of sustained demand at unprecedented levels, with around one billion litres of drinking water being pumped into supply every day during the past week – roughly 20% more than would ordinarily be anticipated at this time of year. The affected region includes about 33,000 properties, stretching from Llanon, Llangwyryfon and Cwm Ystwyth in Ceredigion, across to Crymych, Llanfyrnach and Nevern in north Pembrokeshire, and into parts of north Carmarthenshire, including Farmers, Pencader and Hermon. Residents can verify whether their property is affected by using the postcode checker on the Welsh Water website, reports Wales Online. Under the 'temporary use ban', customers must not use a hosepipe to:. - Water a garden using a hosepipe - Clean a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe; - Water plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe; - Clean a private leisure boat using a hosepipe; - Fill or maintain a domestic swimming or paddling pool; - Draw water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use; - Fill or maintain a domestic pond using a hosepipe; - Fill or maintain an ornamental fountain; - Clean walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe; - Clean paths or patios using a hosepipe; - Clean other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe. A statement from Welsh Water says: "Unlike the short-lived peaks normally experienced during warm weather, demand has remained exceptionally high throughout the day and into the evening for several weeks. This sustained demand has placed unprecedented pressure on the local water supply network. Increased numbers of holiday makers and visitors to the area as the summer holiday season begins are expected to add further pressure to the local network. "While water resources and reservoir levels remain healthy, the challenge is producing, treating, storing and moving enough drinking water through the network quickly enough to meet this exceptional level of demand. "To maintain supplies, Welsh Water has already taken extensive action. Water treatment works are operating at maximum capacity, additional water is being moved around the network wherever possible, local service reservoirs (underground storage tanks) are being kept as full as possible, hundreds of frontline colleagues have been working around the clock repairing leaks and maintaining supplies, and the company's entire tanker fleet has been deployed to support areas experiencing pressure. "Despite these measures, demand has continued to exceed what can be sustainably treated and supplied during the busiest periods of the day. As a result, local service reservoirs have been depleting faster than they can be replenished, increasing the risk of customers experiencing low water pressure or interruptions to supply. "The temporary use ban is a short-term emergency measure designed to reduce non-essential water use, protect local storage levels and help ensure reliable water supplies continue for homes, businesses and essential services. It applies only to the affected area and will be lifted as soon as weather conditions improve, and local storage returns to sustainable levels." Welsh Water's chief customer officer, Kit Wilson, said: "This has not been an easy decision, and we fully appreciate that these temporary restrictions will disappoint some customers, particularly during a period of warm weather. However, after several weeks of unprecedented demand, they have become necessary to help protect essential water supplies. "Our teams have been working around the clock by increasing production, moving water around our network, deploying our tanker fleet and repairing leaks as quickly as possible. Every available operational measure has already been taken to maintain supplies. "Over the past week we have been putting around one billion litres of drinking water into supply every day – around 20% more than we would normally expect at this time of year. Our reservoirs remain in a healthy position, but the challenge is producing, treating and moving enough drinking water through the network quickly enough to meet this exceptional and sustained level of demand. "These restrictions are a temporary emergency measure and will remain in place only for as long as they are needed. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and support. By reducing non-essential water use, everyone can help protect supplies and reduce the risk of further disruption."