Around 40% of the UK households have been hit with a hosepipe ban but a new survey has suggested some people will not follow the restriction with just 49% supporting the ban
A staggering one in 10 households do not intend to follow the hosepipe bans enforced in their areas after droughts were announced across large parts of the nation, according to a survey.
The UK has been hit with four heatwaves so far this year, with temperatures toping a staggering 35C. Some parts of the UK recorded just 1mm of rainfall in July, with millions of households being hit with hosepipe bans across the country. Despite this, a new survey suggested around 11% of households living within a ban area do not intend to follow the restriction.
Around 5% of people said they did not yet know if they would stick to the ban, a YouGov poll of more than 4,200 adults found.
The poll also revealed what people would do if they saw next-door using a hosepipe when they shouldn’t. Some 10% of householders said they would report a neighbour using a hose in their garden while a ban was in place and 71% said they would not, with the remainder unsure.
Seven water companies have introduced the restrictions – officially known as a “Temporary Use Ban” – affecting 23 million customers, or around 40% of England’s population. These companies are: Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water and South West Water.
The poll suggested the public was split on the overall measure with just half of households (49%) saying they supported a hosepipe ban in their local area, while 35% said they opposed the restrictions. A significant number of people said they believed those on a meter should be able to use as much water as they needed because they were paying for it.
Other reasons given by people polled for ignoring a ban were concerns about fruit and vegetables going to waste because they were too difficult to water with a watering can. Another reason was to help wildlife in the garden.
Some people raged about water companies and the price of their bills, with one person saying: “I pay an extortionate amount for my water. It is not my problem that water companies would rather give their CEOs ridiculous amounts of money instead of building new reservoirs.”
Households in ban areas are able to use a watering can and can use a hosepipe to water food crops at home or in an allotment, when a can is not an easy option. Drip irrigation systems are also allowed as long as it is fitted with a timer and pressure-reducing valve and delivers water directly to the soil rather than spraying it into the air.
The bans come as almost a third of England – including parts of the South East, Midlands and North West – languish in “prolonged dry weather” status, with only the North East and Yorkshire still seeing “normal” conditions for the time of year.
A Water UK spokeswoman said: “We are incredibly grateful to customers for doing their bit to protect our environment and preserve our water supplies. Some parts of the country have seen demand for water rise by more than a third.
“Water companies are working round the clock fixing leaks, moving water across regions and running treatment works flat out to keep supplies flowing, and we urge all customers to use water wisely.”
An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: “A hosepipe can use 1,000 litres an hour – which is more than a family-of-four will use in a day. These short-term bans allow companies to conserve their supplies as we don’t know when this drought will end.”