Hosepipe ban likely as rain stays away (From Your Local Guardian)

Hosepipe ban likely as rain stays away says Sutton & East Surrey Water

10:41am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Sutton

Residents could be hit with a hosepipe ban this year following well below average rainfall.

January rainfall was 52mm compared to the long term average of 75mm.

Water levels at Sutton and East Surrey Water's boreholes are not rising and remain well below average for the time of year.

The company’s surface reservoir at Bough Beech is 74 per cent full - 15 per cent below average.

Mike Hegarty, Sutton and East Surrey Water’s Operations Director, said: "Our resource situation is serious because so far we have not received enough rain in the ‘recharge’ period to replenish the aquifers from which we draw most of our water.

"Restrictions are not currently necessary but the longer this situation continues the more likely we are to have to introduce constraints such as a hosepipe ban later in the year. We are asking customers to assist us and the environment by using water with care."

Spring was the driest since Sutton and East Surrey Water’s records began in 1910. Barely 1mm of rain fell in April - the lowest for any month of the year. Only four of the past 12 months have recorded more rainfall than the long term average.

Mike Hegarty said: "While the recent snow has been welcome from a resources point of view it has not made a great difference. Typically, it takes 12 inches (30.5cm) of snow to equal one inch (2.5cm) of rain."