Drought: Days Left Before Looming Hosepipe Ban

Gardeners across much of the country are making the most of their last chance to use a hosepipe before a ban is introduced on Thursday.

Seven water companies have announced the restrictions after two exceptionally dry winters left many areas in drought.

It means anyone using a hose for gardening or car washing in affected regions could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Derek Holder is worried about what it will mean for his allotment in Ipswich.

"The fruit will suffer," he said.

"Your peas, your runner beans all need plenty of water and you just cannot get enough down with a watering can.

"But then again you have to adhere to the rules. It will be very hard and there will be lots of moans and groans."

The problem is a lack of rain. Parts of East Anglia were the first to be declared in drought last June, followed by the South East and now swathes of East and South Yorkshire .

It has left river flows, groundwater levels and reservoirs exceptionally low in many areas.

Other water companies are expected to follow suit with a ban.

Ciaran Nelson from Anglian Water said: "We will need an awful lot of rain, weeks if not months of drizzle to reverse the situation we have found ourselves in.

"It's only once we have had that downpour that we will need to be able to lift the hosepipe ban and at the moment we need to do everything we can to save the water in the environment."

But the advice is not simply to cut down on use of tap water but to save the rain when it does fall.

Drought: Days Left Before Looming Hosepipe Ban

At Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge, there has been eight times the normal demand for water butts since the ban was announced.

"Suppliers are working much longer shifts, up to 24 hours a day, I believe, in some places to keep up with the trade and we are sourcing across a wider supply base than we used to," said general manager Nick Bugden.

Many shoppers are leaving the store with two.

"Most houses have downpipes in two or three places so people are obviously planning that when it does rain they can capture as much water as possible," he added.

Businesses such as car washes and garden centres will still be able to use a hose. But window cleaners working at private homes will have to rely on a bucket instead.