Hosepipe ban in place for Cambridge Water users

A water company has issued a temporary hosepipe ban for the first time in 30 years for parts of Cambridgeshire, citing the enduring hot weather and limited rainfall.

Cambridge Water says the ban is with immediate effect, with restrictions enforceable from 01:00 BST on 17 July.

The company is responsible for supplying drinking water for parts of the county, including Cambridge, Ramsey, Gamlingay, Balsham and Melbourn.

Managing director Elena Karpathakis said: "We have been doing everything possible to maintain supplies, but demand for water is currently at record levels. So we really need your help please."

She added: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly – it is the first time in more than 30 years, since the UK drought of 1995, that we have had to introduce a temporary hosepipe ban."

Cambridge Water, which supplies drinking water to around 350,000 customers across Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire, said the temporary ban would "help protect local water resources and the region's internationally important chalk streams".

It said weather conditions having "significantly reduced river flows and groundwater reserves", limited rainfall and a 30% increase in water use.

Residents in Peterborough were also warned by Anglian Water of low water pressure due to a "high demand in the hot weather".

Karpathakis added: "We know how important reliable water supplies are to the communities we serve, and we are asking customers to work with us to reduce non-essential water use while this period of exceptionally hot and dry weather continues."

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