'Drastic steps' if dry weather persists (From Witney Gazette)

'Drastic steps' if dry weather persists

12:05pm Friday 17th March 2006 in Witney

THAMES Water plans to switch off water supplies to Oxfordshire households for set periods during the day if dry weather persists.

The company admitted last week that the the measure called an emergency drought order did form part of its contingency plan should the dry spell persist and water supplies continue to dwindle.

The step would be brought in alongside the introduction of standpipes and water tankers in Oxfordshire streets.

Thames Water insisted that the drastic step would only be taken as a last resort if earlier measures to restore water reserves failed to have the desired effect. However, it did admit that the situation was serious.

Spokesman, Robin Markwell, said: "The reason we are bringing in a hosepipe and sprinkler ban is to try to stave off the need for future restrictions.

"We don't have a published plan in place, but the restriction of water supplies to households is an option we have considered.

"We hope our customers listen to us and realise how dry it has been, and save water not just in the garden, but also in the home."

Thames Water pokesman Robin Markwell

"Emergency water drought status would allow us to to limit the usage of water for such purposes as we think fit, but it would need to be dry for a long period of time before we did that."

In 1976, Thames Water introduced standpipes across the region, but the company did not go as far as turn off supplies to households.

It hopes that householders take notice of the seriousness of the situation, and take simple steps to save water.

Mr Markwell added: "We hope our customers listen to us and realise how dry it has been, and save water not just in the garden, but also in the home. Hopefully, we will see the water demand fall, as we did last year, when it decreased by four per cent."

A sprinkler uses an average of 540 litres of water an hour, which is enough to supply a family of four for a day.

Mr Markwell said the ban on hosepipes and sprinklers in households would significantly reduce demand over the summer period, even though it did not apply to sports clubs and businesses.

He added: "Come the summer months, we hope hosepipes are kept in the sheds and watering cans are used instead. It remains to be seen what the winter holds in store for us."