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Image caption, Wimbleball reservoir on Exmoor is considered to be "exceptionally low" with plans by South West Water to bring in a non-essential water use ban for some businesses By South West environment and tourism correspondent Additional water usage restrictions could be introduced after South West Water said a reservoir had dropped to just 18% full. After introducing a hosepipe ban in August, the company is now applying to the government to potentially bring in a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB), which would restrict water usage by certain businesses. "We don't want to impact businesses but this is a last resort," said Sam Bottomley, director of water services at the firm, adding "reservoirs just haven't recovered" after the hottest summer on record .
He said Wimbleball reservoir on Exmoor was under 20% full. Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were among seven areas of England to be declared in drought in July. Which businesses could be affected?
"We're looking at businesses non-essential use of water," Bottomley said. "Window cleaning on an office block, cleaning of fleet vehicles, those sorts of things. "If water is essential for the business, for a domestic window cleaner for example, then you wouldn't be affected by this ban." According to the water regulator Ofwat, the introduction of a non-essential use ban would mean businesses must stop using water for the following activities: Watering outdoor plants on commercial premises Filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming pool or paddling pool Filling or maintaining a pond Operating a mechanical vehicle washer Cleaning any vehicle, boat, aircraft or railway rolling stock Cleaning non-domestic premises Cleaning windows on non-domestic Cleaning industrial plant Suppressing dust Operating cisterns on unoccupied buildings Which areas would the ban cover?
The area served by Wimbleball reservoir would be impacted by the proposed NEUB, if it was introduced. That includes parts of Mid Devon, all of East Devon and extends into part of Dorset and Exmouth, Crediton, Honiton and Lyme Regis. South West Water has applied to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the final decision sits with the government.
The application follows similar applications earlier this year by both Southern Water and South East Water , external . The last time SWW introduced a NEUB was in West Cornwall in 1995. Image source, South West Water Image caption, The areas within the green line would be impacted by the proposed non-essential use ban, including parts of Mid Devon, all of East Devon and some of Dorset Image caption, Wimbleball reservoir can hold just over 21 billion litres of water and is one of South West Water's three strategic reservoirs The South West saw less than average rainfall during September, at just 57%.
Earlier this month the government said the El Niño weather phenomenon was set to put the UK at a slightly greater risk of a wet, stormy autumn but that drought pressures could persist in some areas. It said climate change meant the area could see both flooding and drought simultaneously. Follow BBC Devon on X , external , Facebook , external and Instagram , external .
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Source: bbc.co.uk
