The Drought

Water use restrictions are in place in many parts of the South-East due to a prolonged period of below average rainfall.

Summary 25th June 2006 All water companies in the South East except Portsmouth Water now have temporary hosepipe bans in force. A drought order is in force in the Sutton and East Surrey Water water supply area. Drought orders have been granted to Mid Kent Water and Southern Water. Thames Water has applied for a drought order. Following the granting of water scarcity status, compulsory water metering will be implemented throughout the Folkestone and Dover Water water supply area. Many councils are taking measures to reduce water use on public floral displays. Some water industry figures are talking about restrictions lasting though 2007.

We expect that water use restrictions will affect both new and existing pool owners this summer, and in anticipation of this Azellwood Pools have worked with industry engineers to develop a range of water saving solutions for pool owners. Please contact us for further details of these solutions.

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Water Companies, Defra and The Environment Agency

Details of the current restrictions can be seen on the appropriate water company websites. (External links will open in a new browser window.) This list may not be completely up to date.

The operation of water companies in the UK is overseen by the Environment Agency, part of The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A joint initiative Beat the Drought Website has been set up by the affected UK water companies.

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Water Conservation News

23rd February 2006 - The BBC reported that Southern Water has asked several councils to adopt water conservation measures in respect of public floral displays this year:

20th March 2006 - The BBC reported that a group of water companies have launched a Beat the Drought Website.

21st March 2006 - The BBC reported that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is to adopt water conservation measures in respect of public floral displays this year.

29th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Harrow, Brent and Barnett Councils in London are implementing Water Conservation measures affecting public flower displays.

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Water Restrictions News

24th February 2006 - The BBC reported that The Environment Agency has recommended the introduction of hosepipe bans throughout South-East England. In the same BBC report, four water companies are identified as having ongoing water use restrictions:

28th February 2006 - The BBC reported that Sutton and East Surrey Water is implementing a full hosepipe ban.

10th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Folkestone and Dover Water is to introduce a hosepipe and sprinkler ban across its water supply area from 2nd April.

13th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Thames Water is to introduce a hosepipe and sprinkler ban across its water supply area from Monday 3rd April.

15th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Southern Water is to introduce a hosepipe and sprinkler ban throughout the Isle of Wight from Friday 24th March.

20th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Three Valleys Water is to introduce a hosepipe and sprinkler ban across its water supply area from Monday 3rd April.

20th March 2006 - The BBC reported that Southern Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water and Mid Kent Water have applied to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for drought orders.

2nd April 2006 - The BBC reported that South East Water is extending it's hosepipe ban to include customers in Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. The article also mentioned restrictions announced earlier by Folkestone and Dover Water, Thames Water and Three Valleys Water which come into effect on the 2nd or 3rd of April.

15th May 2006 - The BBC reported that Sutton and East Surrey Water has been granted a drought order for the whole of it's water supply area. (See also Defra Press Release). Sutton and East Surrey Water announced that they would be implementing the drought order in phases commencing 27th May 2006.

23rd May 2006 - The Sutton and East Surrey Water plc (Non-Essential Use) Drought Order 2006 is now available from OPSI (the new HMSO) in web (html) and printable (PDF) formats.

25th May 2006 - The BBC reported that drought orders have been granted to Southern Water (for both Kent and Sussex water supply areas) and to Mid Kent Water (for the whole of it's water supply area). (See also Defra Press Release.) Both companies have stated that at present they are not implementing the orders, but the situation remains under review.

27th May 2006 - Phase 1 of the implementation of The Sutton and East Surrey Water plc (Non-Essential Use) Drought Order 2006 started today. The Sutton and East Surrey Water website has details of the phase 1 implementation. Phase 1 appears to be an implementation of all the drought order restrictions except:

9th June 2006 - The BBC announced that Thames Water has applied for a drought order.

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Other News

Metering 1st March 2006 - The BBC reported that Folkestone and Dover Water have received permission to implement compulsory water metering.

Water Scarcity Status 1st March 2006 - The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that Folkestone and Dover Water has been granted water scarcity status for a period of 10 years.

Next Year 20th March 2006 - The BBC reported that similar restrictions may also be needed next year.

Drought Prospects May 2006 - The Environment Agency has released Drought prospects 2006 - Spring Update to the document Drought Prospects 2006 (both in PDF format). The update recommends further restrictions on non-essential use of water.

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Background Information

Drought Order
A drought order enabling a water company to restrict water use beyond the restrictions of a temporary hosepipe ban can be granted under the Water Resources Act 1991 S 73 through S 76 by the Secretary of State following an application by that water company. The restrictions which a water company can apply for in a drought order are listed in a Direction issued by the Secretary of State in accordance with the Water Resources Act 1991 S 73 through S 76.
Drought Direction
A direction specifying the restrictions which a water company may apply for with a drought order. The current direction is The Drought Direction 1991, the text of which can be found as Appendix A4 of the information booklet Drought Orders and Drought Permits issued jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Environment Agency in 2005 (This is a large PDF format document, and is not a definitive legislative reference). This direction was issued under earlier legislation (The Water Act 1989 Section 131(4)(b)), but remains applicable due to provisions of consolidating legislation (Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991) issued in 1991.

The following purposes may be specified by virtue of subsection (4) (b) of section 131 of the Water Act 1989 in any order under that section:-

  • (a) the watering, by hosepipe, sprinkler or other similar apparatus, of:-
    • (i) gardens (other than market gardens), including lawns, verges and other landscaped areas;
    • (ii) allotments;
    • (iii) parks; or
    • (iv) any natural or artificial surfaces used for sport or recreation, whether publicly or privately owned;
  • (b) the filling (whether wholly or partially) of privately owned swimming pools, other than:-
    • (i) pools designed to be used in the course of a programme of medical treatment;
    • (ii) the filling of pools where necessary in the course of their construction;
  • (c) the filling (whether wholly or partially) of ornamental ponds other than fish ponds;
  • (d) the operation of mechanical vehicle washers, whether automatic or not;
  • (e) the washing of road vehicles, boats, railway rolling stock or aircraft for any reason other than safety or hygiene;
  • (f) the cleaning of the exterior of buildings, other than windows;
  • (g) the cleaning of windows by hosepipe, sprinkler or other similar apparatus
  • (h) the cleaning of industrial premises or plant for any reason other than safety or hygiene;
  • (i) the operation of ornamental fountains or cascades, including those where water is recycled;
  • (j) the operation, in relation to any building or other premises, of any cistern which flushes automatically, during any period when those premises are wholly or substantially unoccupied.

From "The Drought Direction 1991". These are relevant to the Water Resources Act 1991 Section 74 (2) (b) legislation by virtue of the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991.

Secretary of State
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Prior to May 5th 2006, the Secretary of State was Margaret Beckett, but on May 5th 2006 a Defra Press Release announced that David Miliband had been appointed to this post. The Secretary of State may delegate authority to Ministers of State, for example the Environment Minister, Ian Pearson.
Temporary Hosepipe Ban
The restrictions that may be imposed by a water company with a temporary hosepipe ban are defined in the Water Industry Act 1991 section 76.
Water Scarcity Status
Water scarcity status is defined in The Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999 and relates to the conditions defined in The Water Industry Act 1991 as modified by The Water Industry Act 1999 in respect of a Water Company's power to install water meters and charge for water supply in relation to the volume of water used by the consumer.

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© Azellwood Pools  25th June 2006