PR1780

22nd October 2007

Three Valleys Water welcomes new hosepipe ban law

Three Valleys Water has welcomed plans to introduce clearer, more flexible and - where necessary - tougher rules on restricting water use during droughts.

Andy Smith Managing Director said: “We were really pleased that our customers worked with us to reduce water consumption throughout the drought last year. But it soon became clear, when implemented, that much had changed since the last time restrictions were in place in 1992 and people were understandably frustrated when high water consuming products such as jet washers were allowed under the legislation.”

The company says the new measures proposed by Government will go a long way to removing the anomalies that emerged during the 2004 – 2006 drought, largely as a result of outdated legislation.

Three Valleys Water has actively lobbied Government about the urgent need to redress this issue.

Now, f ollowing extensive consultation, the Government is proposing to replace the previous hosepipe ban legislation, which limited the use of hosepipes for washing private cars and watering private gardens, with a ‘discretionary use’ ban.

The proposed changes will expand the range of prohibited hosepipe uses to include, operating ornamental fountains and cleaning patios, and the filling of swimming pools and hot tubs, either by hosepipe or through permanent plumbing.

Whilst the new discretionary use ban will continue to concentrate predominantly on domestic water customers, all gardens and hard standings will also be included in the new ban.

Andy Smith Managing Director Three Valleys Water, said: “The law relating to hosepipe bans dates back some 60 years and so does not take account of modern lifestyles and increased water use in the home and garden today, which is why we fully understood our customers’ irritation at the anomalies that emerged during the recent drought.

“The proposed changes to the legislation are long overdue and will help deliver clear guidance on what is covered by a hosepipe ban, adequately reflecting today's modern lifestyles, while also giving water companies more flexibility to decide where and when a hosepipe ban needs to be introduced.”

Ends

For further information please contact Public Relations, tel: 01707 277110, fax: 01707 277213, website: www.3valleys.co.uk

Note to Editors:

About us
Three Valleys Water has been supplying water to the local community for more than 130 years and is committed to delivering a high quality water service to all its customers . It now provides over 870 million litres of water each day to three million customers, in parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, the London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon and parts of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, and Enfield. The supply area covers a total of 3,700 square kilometres, stretching from Luton and Royston in the north to Guildford in the south, and from Berkhamsted in the west to Dunmow in the east.

Three Valleys Water is the UK’s largest water supply only company and is part of Veolia Water, the world leader in water and wastewater management. If you spot a leak call the Leakspotters hotline on 0800 376 5325 or use our online leakage form