Water company lifts hosepipe ban as reservoir and aquifer levels recover

YORKSHIRE

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PIC: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

(MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES)

Water is lifting a hosepipe ban imposed on millions of households in the summer, following the recovery of reservoirs and water resources in the region.The company was the first major utility to impose restrictions on its customers in July, after much of England struggled with drought in the wake of the driest spring for more than a century and a record hot summer.

Reservoir levels have now reached 91.6%, up from just 30.6% at their lowest point, and Hull aquifer levels are at 77% - up from 49% at the end of November following recent rainfall.

It means water resources across reservoirs, rivers and groundwater sources are now above average for the time of year, at 85.1%, and restrictions can be lifted for 2.3 million households from Wednesday, Yorkshire Water said.

The hosepipe restrictions saved around 3.1 billion litres of water, the equivalent of 33 days of Sheffield’s average use.