Police across Yorkshire have issued urgent warnings against calling 999 to report neighbours breaking the hosepipe ban that comes into force tomorrow.
North Yorkshire Police said residents should not use emergency lines for reporting ban breaches. “Any call made to the police about this could divert our call handlers away from dealing with real emergencies,” a spokesman stated.
The force emphasised that questions about restrictions or concerns about potential breaches should be directed to Yorkshire Water rather than police.
West Yorkshire Police echoed these concerns, warning that such calls could prevent officers from “helping someone in a real emergency”.
A hosepipe ban has kicked in
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“Let’s keep our colleagues free to take genuine calls from those really in need of help,” the North Yorkshire Police spokesman added.
The temporary use ban, which begins on Friday, July 11, will affect more than five million people across Yorkshire, parts of North Lincolnshire and parts of Derbyshire.
The restrictions prohibit using hosepipes for activities including watering gardens, filling paddling pools and washing cars. Anyone caught flouting the ban could face fines of up to £1,000
Yorkshire Water has outlined its enforcement approach.
“If the company is repeatedly told about someone breaking the restrictions, the first thing they would do is to ‘remind them of their obligations’,” a spokesman said.
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Sunbathing in Greenwich Park
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If customers continue to breach the ban after warnings, the water company could pursue enforcement action.
Yorkshire’s reservoirs currently stand at just over 50 per cent capacity – a record low for early July and “significantly below” the average of nearly 80 per cent.
The region has experienced its driest and warmest spring on record, with only 15cm of rainfall between February and June – less than half the typical amount.
Yorkshire Water has been forced to supply an additional 4.3 billion litres of water between April and June compared with a normal year.
Current reservoir levels sit at 55.8 per cent, 26.1 per cent lower than usual for this time of year.
Director of water Dave Kaye at Yorkshire Water, said the restrictions were “intended to make sure we have enough supply for the essential needs of people across the region this year and next”.
Blithfield Reservoir
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The water shortage concerns extend beyond Yorkshire, with multiple companies across England warning of potential restrictions.
Thames Water said supplies in areas including Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey were “quite low” and a hosepipe ban was under active consideration.
“We are really concerned about the water we have got and making the best use of it,” said Nevil Muncaster, the firm’s strategic water resources director.
South Staffs Water reported its Blithfield Reservoir had dropped 20 per cent below normal levels.
“This may be a possibility if this dry weather continues and demands do not drop,” said Natalie Akroyd, director of water quality and environment.
Severn Trent confirmed restrictions remain “an option we keep under review” as temperatures reached 31C across England on Thursday.
