Yorkshire Water ends the hosepipe ban despite insisting the county is still in ... trends now
A water company which supplies more than five million homes is finally ending the hosepipe ban brought in during the summer.
Yorkshire Water said the county is still officially in drought by the Environment Agency.
But the ban - imposed on August 26 - can now be lifted thanks to a wetter than average autumn and the public’s efforts to save water.
Thames Water lifted its ban affecting 10 million homes on November 22, while South East Water lifted its ban for 1.4 million customers last week.
Yorkshire Water has ended the hosepipe ban it brought in for more than five million homes three months ago. Pictured: River Ouse in York city broke its banks last month after heavy rain
Yorkshire Water said yesterday the ban saved an average of 28 million litres per day as reservoirs dried up. Pictured: Medieval village exposed after water levels at Scar House Reservoir fell in August
South West Water, covering Devon and Cornwall, still has a hosepipe ban, first imposed on August 15, in place.
In July and August, reservoirs across the North of England dropped dramatically following months of record low rainfall, with some reaching unprecedented levels, exposing lost villages and drowned bridges.
Yorkshire Water said yesterday the ban saved an average of 28 million litres per day as reservoirs dried up.
Heavy autumn rains have seen many reservoirs fill dramatically.
One image which captured the summer drought was of the old bridge exposed at Baitings Reservoir, near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, due to the ultra-low water levels. The bridge is now submerged again as water levels rise.
One image which captured the summer drought was of the old bridge exposed at Baitings Reservoir, near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, due to the ultra-low water levels. The bridge is now submerged again as water levels rise
The Woodhead Reservoir, between Sheffield and Manchester, managed by United Utilities, is now completely full just three months after its exposed, parched and cracked bed became another symbol of the hot, dry summer.
Neil Dewis, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said the company was ‘really grateful to our customers for their efforts to save water’.
‘Thanks to a number of emergency drought schemes, drought permits, increased leakage activity, rainfall, and everyone’s efforts to save water, reservoirs are now looking much healthier - with the average level across the region now at 75 per cent.’
Last week, officials said most of England remains in drought despite
