There are no plans for a hosepipe ban in Greater Manchester, despite the current heatwave and other parts of the UK already limiting supplies. South West Water has been in an official drought period since August 2022 with a hosepipe ban in place in Cornwall and North Devon.
But in the north west, despite rainfall last month being classed 'notably low', there are no imminent plans to introduce the same restrictions. A United Utilities spokesperson said reservoirs across the north west are around 80 per cent full, average for this time of year.
That figure has fallen from 92% at the end of April. The last time a hosepipe ban was enforced in the north west was in 2010.
Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link
Even during last year's record-breaking heatwave - when temperatures in our region topped 37C - no restrictions were introduced, despite reservoir levels dropping to around 50%. However water bosses are still urging gardeners and homeowners to conserve water during the current warm spell.
The UU spokesperson said: "Water resources are around 80% which is average for this time of year. We don't have plans to introduce restrictions, but whatever the weather, we always encourage people to use water wisely, which saves energy and money and is good for the environment.
"We've got advice on how people can save water in their homes and gardens on our website."
Rose Francis, campaign manager at United Utilities, added: "We're all enjoying the recent warm weather but as it continues over an extended period, even with short bursts of rain, we know customers with gardens can worry about them drying out which can lead to increased water usage. By being mindful about how much water they use and following a few simple steps, green fingered customers can not only save water and money but also help maintain their gardens."
Temperatures in Manchester reached 27C on Wednesday, hotter than Tenerife and Majorca. On Tuesday the Met Office confirmed that the heatwave threshold had been hit in the north west of England - after three days of temperatures over 25C.
A heat health warning remains in place for the region until Monday, but temperatures are forecast to drop to around 23C early next week.
READ NEXT:
