Thames Water was accused of hypocrisy today after asking that its 15 million customers reduce their water consumption – and a coming hosepipe ban – when there were two massive leaks on its watch overnight, possibly wasting millions of gallons of water.
Streets in Dartford, Kent, and near Arsenal FC’s stadium in Islington, north London, are inundated, with water pouring down the streets and houses and businesses without power due to broken mains.
However, Thames Water, the UK’s biggest water utility, whose CEO Sarah Bentley makes £2 million a year plus a recent £727,000 bonus, encouraged consumers in London to save water by using a can instead of a hose in the yard and having shorter showers over the weekend.
In addition, the corporation was accused of shutting down an emergency drought plant in east London to save money on electricity. Beckton’s desalination plant collects water from the Thames and processes it to provide drinking water, although it is now inoperable.
South East Water has declared a suspension that will go into effect on Friday, impacting 2.2 million consumers in Kent and Sussex. Southern Water was the first operator to implement a hosepipe restriction for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday.
Further limits may impact 15 million consumers in London and the Thames Valley, as well as about two million in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, according to Thames Water and South West Water, which both warned that limitations might be imposed shortly. Neighbors are being pushed in certain locations to report people who violate any prohibition, which is punishable by a £1,000 punishment.
Customers who pay hundreds of pounds each year for water have criticised the firms for failing to keep track of the system’s leaks, which total 3 billion litres per day.
It has led to some Britons seeking for ways to safeguard their gardens and stay cool during a summer in which the UK saw its highest temperature in history – 40.3 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 19.
Hoses may still be used on newly laid lawns for the first 28 days, and the prohibition does not apply to watering plants in outside pots or under cover in a greenhouse. Hot tubs are exempt, while swimming pools and paddling pools are not. Britons also use this term to rinse clean their dumpsters and boats. Water providers have been’strongly advised’ to implement hosepipe restrictions throughout the UK, as the Met Office predicted a second heatwave and another dry week.
As the UK confronts the possibility of a drought after the driest July since 1935, Environment Secretary George Eustice has urged more businesses to implement water-use limits.
Despite the fact that no rain is expected for at least the next seven days, just three water providers in England and Wales have issued a restriction, preventing people from watering gardens, washing vehicles, or filling pools.
The Met Office predicts that England and Wales will stay totally dry this week, with temperatures predicted to top 30 degrees Celsius once again.
Temperatures will rise from 29 degrees today to 30 degrees Tuesday and 32 degrees Wednesday, with a 40% probability of highs of 35 degrees or higher by the end of the week.
‘The entirety of England and Wales looks absolutely dry, and progressively hot and bright,’ said a Met Office official. There will be no rain in England or Wales until at least Monday next week, and even then, it is unknown since it is a week away.
‘If you’re searching for rain, you’re out of luck. If we do witness a move to something a little wetter, it won’t be widespread. Showers are more possible, so it’ll be hit or miss. But there will be no rain for at least a week.’
The perfect combination of hot temperatures and poor rainfall is affecting reservoir water levels throughout the UK, and activists claim not enough is being done to ensure homes do not run out of water.
Feargal Sharkey, a singer-turned-environmentalist, requested that Mr Eustice go further and implement a nationwide hosepipe ban.
‘I’d be amazed if there isn’t a hosepipe ban over the whole of England within the next two weeks,’ he said.
‘If we have another dry winter like last year, London will have to deal with people collecting water from standpipes.’ That is how vulnerable the whole water supply has become.’
Mr Eustice, in the government’s first public intervention, urged additional water firms to prohibit hosepipes in order to keep water supply under control.
‘Water providers around the nation have properly taken action to reduce the consequences of this protracted dry weather using the variety of measures at their disposal,’ he wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.
‘I highly encourage others to follow suit.’
Firefighters have urged Britons to avoid backyard barbecues as forecasts predict a second heatwave and another week without rain.
Water providers have also been’strongly encouraged’ to implement hosepipe restrictions, since dry conditions in Europe have caused river levels to plummet considerably.
The Met Office predicts that England and Wales will stay totally dry this week, with temperatures predicted to top 30 degrees Celsius once again.
Temperatures will rise from 29 degrees today to 30 degrees Tuesday and 32 degrees Wednesday, with a 40% chance of highs of 35 degrees or higher.
It follows the rescue of 40 people from their homes in Chelmsford, Essex, on Saturday when a fire destroyed 15 houses and rear gardens.
While the origin of the incident is unknown, fire officials cautioned residents not to use a grill in the heat.
According to The Sun, fire station manager Dan Wastell has encouraged residents to’refrain from holding barbecues’ owing to the danger of fire.
‘We’re dealing with exceptional temperatures combined with drought-like circumstances,’ he added. Nothing is tinder-dry.’ That poses a significant fire danger. Fire and rescue agencies in the United Kingdom frequently advise people to avoid having bonfires in their yards whenever feasible.
‘This is primarily focused on bonfires and chimineas, but we are also asking people to avoid having barbecues during this time period if feasible.
‘I understand that this is the time of year when people prefer to utilize their gardens and make the most of the sun, but they must do it responsibly and keep the danger of fire low.’
‘I would encourage people to consider whether they really need to use their grill – they could, for example, cook inside and dine outdoors.’
‘We’re strongly advising people against having any form of fire at the moment,’ said Neil Fenwick, regional manager for Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
A massive grass fire near Heathrow Airport prompted the evacuation of 60 people and sent plumes of black smoke throughout west London.
And roughly 70 firemen were sent to Feltham yesterday afternoon to put out the fire.
Social media footage showed the flames racing through one back yard as firemen fought to rescue a whole neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George Eustice has urged water companies to implement hosepipe restrictions and punish consumers who violate them.
Despite the fact that no rain is expected for at least seven days, just three water providers in England and Wales have issued a restriction, preventing people from watering gardens, washing vehicles, or filling pools.
Drought conditions in Europe have also caused river levels to plummet, leading to the discovery of a 1,000lb (450kg) World War II bomb near Mantua in northern Italy. After being discovered on July 25, it was only yesterday that military analysts declared it safe.
The Met Office predicts that England and Wales will stay totally dry this week, with temperatures predicted to top 30 degrees Celsius once again. Temperatures will rise from 29 degrees today to 30 degrees Tuesday and 32 degrees Wednesday, with a 40% chance of highs of 35 degrees or higher. ‘The entirety of England and Wales looks absolutely dry and progressively hot and bright,’ said a Met Office official.
There will be no rain in England or Wales until at least next Monday, and even then, it is unknown since it is a week away.
‘If we do see a transition to something a little wetter, it’s not going to be widespread rain.’ Showers are more possible, so it’ll be hit or miss. But there will be no rain for at least a week.’
The combination of high temperatures and poor rainfall is affecting reservoir water levels, and activists claim not enough is being done to save people from running out of water.
Feargal Sharkey, a singer-turned-environmentalist, requested that Mr Eustice go further and implement a nationwide hosepipe ban.
‘I’d be astonished if there isn’t a hosepipe ban over the whole of England within two weeks,’ he added.
‘If we have another dry winter like last year, London will have to deal with people collecting water from standpipes.’
‘That’s how vulnerable the whole water supply has become.’
Mr Eustice, in the government’s first public intervention, urged additional water firms to prohibit hosepipes in order to safeguard supplies.
‘Water providers around the nation have properly taken measures to minimize the impacts of this protracted dry weather,’ he wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.
‘I highly encourage others to follow suit.’ Southern Water was the first to issue a hosepipe restriction for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday.
If the situation worsens, residents will be forced to collect water from street tanks.
South East Water will implement a hosepipe restriction for consumers in Kent and Sussex beginning Friday, while Welsh Water has planned a ban for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire later this month.