Hosepipe ban for Merseyside called OFF

The hosepipe ban due to start in Merseyside on Sunday has been called OFF.

United Utilities say the recent rainfall has gone 'a long way' in helping water supplies.

The company has warned they may still need to introduce a ban at a later stage is the dry weather continues throughout August or beyond.

Dr Martin Padley, Water Services Director, said: “We would like to thank all of our customers who have helped in recent weeks by conserving water wherever they can around the home and in the garden.

“Our leakage teams are working 24 hours a day to find and repair as many leaks as possible and we have been moving water around our network."

"We have also been making operational interventions such as installation of new pumping stations, pumping between reservoirs, bringing ground water sources into use and prioritising maintenance to help ensure supplies have not been interrupted during the prolonged hot spell."

“Given the improved position, helped by recent rainfall, we do not want to inconvenience customers unnecessarily at this time."

However, the long range forecast from the Met Office is one of relatively dry weather into the autumn, so future restrictions are still a possibility if more rain doesn’t arrive.

The first half of the summer in the UK has been the driest since 1961.