Drought order urged for London

Thames Water has been urged to apply for a drought order, as fears continue that England faces potentially its worst drought for a hundred years.

The call came the day after the first drought order for eleven years was granted in England.

Sutton and East Surrey Water will be able to ban non-essential uses of water - such as the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, the filling of privately owned swimming pools and the washing of cars and other vehicles - under the six-month order, which will come into effect from May 27.

According to reports, Thames Water has said that it has no plans to apply for a drought order, but is continuing to monitor water stocks. A hosepipe ban is already in place in the area.

Southern and Mid Kent Water are currently awaiting decisions on drought orders.

On Monday, Environment Minister Ian Pearson urged all water companies to continue efforts to improve their performance on controlling leakage.

He said: "The drought in the south-east remains serious. There have been misleading and unhelpful reports suggesting that recent rainfall has somehow solved the problem. It hasn't. Reservoir levels may have risen, but river flows and groundwater levels are worryingly low, and we are now at the end of the vital re-charge period, which should have replenished them.

"The Environment Agency has not changed its view - that we face potentially the worst drought for a hundred years."

The Consumer Council for Water urged both household and business consumers to do all they can to save water.

On Tuesday, Consumer Council Chair Dame Yves Buckland said that the use of standpipes was unlikely to be necessary and would be months away if they did need to be used. She said: "Consumers are prepared to do their bit to save water, and will respond to restrictions if they are in the right places. The prospect of standpipes may act as a deterrent against waste, but they are unlikely to be necessary and would be months away if they were.

"However, if standpipes are presented by the media as being inevitable, consumers may feel they have no influence on preventing further supply problems. Standpipes would be the result only of a very unusual summer, such as that of 1976. There is no suggestion from the Met Office that this will happen.

"Meanwhile, the Consumer Council for Water will help to spread the message that consumers should use water wisely."

(KMcA)