News

Hosepipe Bans affecting Middleham from 26 August 2022

Yorkshire Water supplies Middleham and has posted the following for residential customers on its website at https://www.yorkshirewater.com/your-water/is-there-a-hosepipe-ban/ :  Similar advise relevant to businesses is included at the bottom of this page.

For residential customers

You’ve heard of dry January – well, in Yorkshire we’ve had dry March, April, May, June and July, with 34% less rain than the long term average.

The forecast’s looking similar for August. And while our teams are out 24/7 fixing leaks and looking after your water, we’re asking for your help to use a bit less too.

To ensure we’re able to apply for drought permits this winter, we are putting a hosepipe ban in place from 26 August 2022, which would mean the following activities are prohibited:

  • Watering a garden using a hosepipe
  • Cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a hosepipe
  • Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
  • Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
  • Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
  • Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
  • Filling or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe
  • Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain
  • Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe
  • Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
  • Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

Customers can still carry out these activities if they use water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from the mains such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt through a hosepipe, or private boreholes for example.

For business customers at https://www.yorkshirewater.com/business/hosepipe-ban/:

You’ve heard of dry January – well, in Yorkshire we’ve had dry March, April, May, June and July, with 34% less rain than the long term average.

The forecast’s looking similar for August. And while our teams are out 24/7 fixing leaks and looking after your water, we’re asking for your help to use a bit less too.

As a business, you will be allowed to use a hosepipe if this is directly related to the use of water for your commercial purposes. There are restrictions on you using a hosepipe if not for those essential needs – so using a hosepipe to clean a path outside your business property, for example, would be covered by the ban. There are more specific examples in the questions below.