A temporary hosepipe ban has been announced for the North West, said to be the first in the area for 14 years.

A temporary hosepipe ban in the North West has been announced for the first time in 14 years.

Water company United Utilities imposed the ban – set to come into force this Friday (9 July) – "following the driest start to a year since its records began".

With the exception of those in Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland and the north Eden Valley, where the company says supplies "are at reasonable levels", all other customers in the North West will be affected.

Water regulation and strategy manager, John Sanders, said of the ban: "It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but a hosepipe can use as much water in an hour as a family of four would use in one day.

"This ban will help us to safeguard essential water supplies to our customers if the drought continues."

This comes as new Part G regulations, announced in April and due this October, will focus in part on water efficiency.

Bathroom products play a major role in driving down water consumption to the maximum 125 litres/person/day in a new home, according to industry body Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA).

You can read BMA's latest column in HVP magazine's July/August issue.

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