Thames Water considers emergency measures (From Witney Gazette)

Thames Water considers emergency measures

9:00am Friday 21st April 2006 in Witney By Samantha Simpson

THAMES Water has told the Witney Gazette it is 'seriously considering' applying for emergency measures to prevent all non-essential water use.

Sports grounds, parks, and businesses across Oxfordshire, such as car washes and commercial building cleaners, could be severely affected if the company was allowed to bring in the ban.

Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban on April 3, preventing householders using hosepipes and sprinklers, but admitted to the Gazette that water usage had not decreased.

Spokesman, Robin Markwell, said that the drought situation remained 'very serious despite bouts of rainfall in the past few weeks, and the company was considering applying to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a drought order.

This would allow it to ban commercial businesses and recreational facilities from all non-essential water use.

The company said sporting events, such as Wimbledon, would be affected, and it was already in talks with venues about how to minimise its impact.

At the moment, we are monitoring the effect of the hosepipe ban and seeing what the heavens bring."

Robin Markwell

Mr Markwell could not estimate when the firm might apply for the order, but said: "It's a decision we are reviewing on a day-to-day basis. At the moment, we are monitoring the effect of the hosepipe ban and seeing what the heavens bring, but it is something we are seriously considering."

Three other water firms have already applied for drought orders.

Mr Markwell said it was likely the ban would apply across the region, including Oxfordshire, if Thames Water went ahead with the order. It could apply to watering public gardens, parks, cricket pitches, bowling greens, allotments, and other open spaces. Car washing, filling private swimming pools and paddling pools could also be banned. A drought order has not been imposed in Oxfordshire for 30 years, though Thames Water introduced a ban in the Swindon and Cirencester areas 15 years ago.

The hosepipe ban was brought in in Oxfordshire following 17 months of below-average rainfall. In March, the average rainfall in the county was 79 per cent below the average for the time of year, which is equivalent to 49mm of rain.

Eleven Oxfordshire residents have been reported to Thames Water for flouting the ban by using hosepipes. Persistent offenders could be fined up to £1,000.