Understand
South West Water applies for business water restrictions as Wimbleball reservoir drops to 18%
Overview
South West Water has applied to the government for a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) affecting certain businesses after the Wimbleball reservoir on Exmoor dropped to just 18% full following the hottest summer on record. The proposed ban would restrict commercial activities such as watering outdoor plants, cleaning vehicles, and operating non-domestic pools in areas including parts of Mid Devon, all of East Devon, and parts of Dorset. Exemptions apply to activities impacting health, safety, or animal welfare.
Key points
- Wimbleball reservoir has dropped to 18% full following the hottest summer on record and below-average September rainfall.
- South West Water has applied to the government for a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) to restrict water usage by certain businesses.
- The proposed ban would cover parts of Mid Devon, all of East Devon, and parts of Dorset and surrounding towns.
- Restricted commercial activities would include vehicle cleaning, watering commercial plants, and filling non-domestic pools.
- Exemptions to the ban include activities essential to health, safety, and animal welfare, such as schools, hospitals, and crop growing.
- South West Water previously introduced a hosepipe ban in August following drought declarations in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly in July.