Southern Water has applied for emergency drought powers that could pave the way for tougher water restrictions across the Isle of Wight, with the water company warning it has reached the trigger requiring it to seek a Drought Order and Non-Essential Use Ban.
The application has been submitted to the Secretary of State under the Water Resources Act 1991 following the declaration of drought across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
While a hosepipe ban is already in force for households, the proposed Drought Order would give Southern Water additional legal powers to prohibit or restrict a range of non-essential water uses, if approved.
The application currently centres on restricting the use of hosepipes to water outdoor plants on commercial premises. However, the notice also sets out a wider suite of restrictions available under drought legislation should conditions deteriorate further.
These include powers to prohibit or limit:
- Filling or maintaining non-domestic ponds.
- Operating mechanical vehicle washers.
- Cleaning vehicles using a hosepipe.
- Cleaning industrial plant.
- Cleaning non-domestic buildings using a hosepipe.
- Suppressing dust with water.
- Operating ornamental fountains.
- Using hosepipes for certain construction activities.
A Southern Water spokesperson has said:
“Due to the ongoing dry weather, and following the declaration of drought in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we have reached the trigger level requiring us to apply to Defra for a Drought Order and Non-Essential Use Ban in these areas.
“These are precautionary measures and making an application does not mean they will be introduced.
Article continues below this advertisement “However, we must follow the regulatory process to protect water supplies and the environment if dry conditions persist.
“Protecting the River Test remains a priority, and any future drought measures would be subject to strict environmental monitoring and controls.”
The application will now be considered by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
I used to live in Southern California, it doesn’t rain there too much but they know a damn site more about managing droughts than Southern Water do. They don’t ever, well not whilst I lived there, ever have hosepipe bans or restrictions!
Yet here we are on the Island after months of winter rain, floods everywhere, with draconian bans and restrictions.
Strikes me that Southern waters management of water is incompetent and their bills extortionately high for what is a very second rate “service?”
Unfortunately there are no mountains with dams on the IOW.
Looking bleak for Las Vegas.
Absolutely agree . We have months of solid rainfall and yet after a couple of months of sun, belly ache about a so called drought
How on earth do the Arab countries, Asian countries, Australia to name a few cope when they have most of the year with no rainfall
Seems to me its not our usage of it , its southern waters management and administration and company that need to put people before profit
Bollocks to southern water. I reported a burst water main in my garden (losing about 60-70 liters a minute) and their response was we’ll get to it at some time during the next day. Incompetency at its highest level with southern scrounging water.
No water shortage in East Cowes they had sprinklers going
ready for when Princess Anne opened Albany Gardens.
Just like most things, always to suit the so called Elites.
Absolutely they are charlatans whose only interest is paying shareholders more leaks all last week all over The Island and Southern Water workers(loose term)nowhere in sight….water running merrily down the road into the drain chocked with dust and leaves!…do the job we pay hand over fist for Southern Water then more Islanders would be happy to help you.
Now I have to wash my car with urine, thanks
I heard that there have been no reservoirs built in the last 35 years, yet 35 years ago it was predicted that the population would increase and the climate would change.
What happened to the reservoirs on the island – it rained every day during January/February and they would have held water for us.
Yes the selling off of reservoirs and building no new ones, they are losing according to published figures 89 million litres a day through leaks and have the gall to lecture us about less time showering or not having a dripping tap, they should have invested instead of paying extortionate amounts to shareholders , they are an absolute shambles of a company
Here we go again, one rule one rule boll*cks. Stop the greedy developers building free houses for the chavs, how much water would just one house use up during it’s construction, and who has ever seen a brown dead golf course, bloody strange how none of these are mentioned in the ”tougher” rules only aimed at ordinary people
The island is 2 tier with their rules.
Perhaps SW customers could take legal action for breach of contract!
What contract did you sign with SW then?
Explain which part they have breached.
Perhaps that is why you are not a lawyer!
We may not have all sat round a table and signed a contract with Southern Water BUT we do have a contractual relationship? We pay our bills and in return they are expected to provide the service and/or goods we are paying for.
If customers are paying for their side of the bargain and the service repeatedly falls short then actually it is not unreasonable to ask if there has been a breach of that agreement?
SW send me a bill every month and expect me to pay it. Funnily enough that part of your non existent contract seems to be enforced very efficiently!!
They are building 473 houses at west acre, 130 in Bembridge if that is the case & they failed miserably to build reservoirs then all building should cease until they can cope, these water companies are absolutely pathetic money grabbing thieves
Here here on that on, I’ve mentioned that before as well.
Once again us mere peasants are punished while corporations like southern water hand out millions in bonuses,pollute our water and fail to upgrade the infrastructure.