Watering Ban In Place Across SE England - BBC

[hatrack]

Britain's biggest water company will ban hosepipes and sprinklers from next month, the firm has announced.
Thames Water, whose eight million customers will be affected by the ban, says two unusually dry winters have caused "serious" water shortages. The ban is the first in 15 years for the firm, which operates across the Thames Valley, in London, and from Kent to Gloucestershire.

Hosepipe bans are already in place throughout much of south-east England. Thames Water's announcement follows decisions by Sutton and East Surrey Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Mid Kent Water, and Cholderton and District Water to ban hosepipes.

And earlier this month, ministers granted Folkestone and Dover Water the power to install compulsory metering in homes it serves. Other firms are considering similar applications.

EDIT

The ban comes despite the latest figures for water storage showing Thames Water reservoirs to be 96% full - the second fullest in the country. "Our reservoirs are okay," a spokesman told the BBC News website. "Where we've got the problem is with the low water levels in the aquifers." Aquifers - also known as ground reservoirs - are underground layers of rock that collect water.

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/4799446.stm