Thames Water Withdraws London Drought Order Application
Date: 01-Sep-06
Country: UK
The company, owned by German utility RWE, said it no longer needed the extra restrictions on water usage it would have obtained under a drought order.
But it said a ban on households using hosepipes and sprinklers to water their gardens or wash their cars would remain and said it could not rule out seeking a drought order next year.
"The short-term threat has receded enough for us not to need a drought order in 2006, but the underlying situation remains serious," said Thames Water's environment director, Richard Aylard.
"Two successive dry winters have left groundwater levels in much of the region very low.
"A third successive dry winter would make the situation worse and -- depending on the amount of rain we receive -- could mean that we need to apply again for a drought order early in 2007."
It said its London reservoirs were now at 78 percent of capacity, higher than at the same time in two of the past three years.
The company said it had applied in June to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the order on the basis it could take up to 12 weeks for it to be granted.
The order would have allowed Thames Water to ban the watering by hosepipes of parks and sports grounds and the filling of private swimming pools.
Since November 2004 there have been only two months of above average rainfall in south east England, with the first six months of 2006 seeing only 78 percent of expected rainfall.
The Environment Agency, which has described the dry spell as the south east's worst drought for a century, said it supported Thames Water's decision.
"The drought isn't over, but the close to average rainfall in July and August and people saving water has left London's water supply in a far better position," said Robert Runcie, the Environment Agency's Thames regional director.