Drought

The Situation in South Bucks
In May 2006 Thames Water and Three Valleys Water issued a hosepipe ban.

• Environment Agency (Opens new window to external site)
• Thames Water (Opens new window to external site)
• Three Valley Water (Opens new window to external site)

What does a hosepipe ban mean?
A ban means you cannot use a hosepipe to water a private garden or wash a private car. The definition of a private motorcar includes any mechanical vehicle e.g. Motorbikes, taxis, minicabs, caravans and trailers. Buses are not covered by the ban as they are public service vehicles and pushbikes are also not included but you are advised to use a bucket of water throughout the duration of the ban. It also bans use of garden sprinklers and irrigation systems connected to the mains water supply, (including micro-irrigation, seep hoses, drip feed systems).

What happens if the situation gets worse?
If the situation deteriorates, restrictions can be extended in a second phase which is called the Non-Essential Use Ban (Drought Directive 1991). This covers activities like watering recreation and sports grounds. The next step on from this is to apply for a Drought Permit which enables water companies to modify its pumping regimes and to reduce the amount of water it feeds into the environment.

Doing your bit to help the situation. Saving water in the home:

• Use the minimum amount of water required when you boil water in saucepans and kettles; that way, you'll save energy as well as water.
• Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. Therefore, wait until you have a full load before switching the machine on.
• Vegetables and fruit should be washed in a bowl rather than under a running tap and the leftover water can be used for watering house plants.
• Try not to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands, as this can waste up to 5 litres of water per minute.
• On average, showers use less water than baths. So, wherever possible, opt for a quick shower (around 5 minutes).
• Old toilet cisterns can use as much as 9 litres of clean water every flush. Reduce this by placing a 'save-a-flush' or 'hippo' in the cistern (available from your water company).
• Dripping taps can waste up to 4 litres of water a day. Replace worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving water.
• Leaky appliances and pipes also waste water, so fixing them will help save water.

Saving water in the garden:

• Water your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening. This will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.
• Collect rainwater in water butts and use a watering can instead of a hose.
• Regularly weed and hoe your garden, to ensure that watering helps plants and not weeds.
• Plant flowers and shrubs that thrive in hot and dry conditions such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose, Californian poppy, pinks, lavender, buddleia and hebes.
• Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation and also suppress weed growth, saving you both water and time spent weeding.
• Resetting your mower blades to 4 cm encourages dense growth to trap morning dew, reduce evaporation and keep weeds away, giving you a lawn that needs less frequent cutting and watering.
• Using bio-degradable gel crystals in planters reduce the need of watering from several times a day at peak temperatures to once or twice a week, when used with mulches and drought-tolerant plants.

Reporting a water leak
You can also help by reporting any water leaks that you are aware of. To report a leak follow the appropriate link depending on the water company that serves your premises:

• Three Valleys - Reporting a water leak (Opens New Window)
• Thames Water - Reporting a water leak (Opens New Window)