Thames Water announces hosepipe ban for Enfield

It comes after a month without rain across most of London as well as high demand for water during recent hot spells

Hosepipes are now banned (credit Steve Dimatteo via Unsplash)

A temporary hosepipe ban has been announced by Thames Water for residents and businesses across its supply area, including Enfield.

The heavily-indebted private utility company has imposed the ban after a period of “prolonged dry weather and recent heatwaves”.

Most parts of London have not received any kind of prolonged rain for nearly a month.

As well as the lack of rainfall, Thames Water says there is higher than normal demand at the present time and that the weather forecast still does not include any substantial rain in the near future.

Nevil Muncaster, Thames Water’s director of strategic water resources, said: “We would not be taking this step unless it was necessary to protect water supplies for everyone and the environment.

“Recent heatwaves and a very dry spring and summer have led to sustained high demand.

“While there is enough water for essential use, we need to reduce non-essential outdoor demand to keep taps flowing.”

However, trade union GMB has pointed out that Thames Water – owned by a consortium including a Chinese sovereign wealth fund and a Canadian pension fund – loses around 570.4 million litres per day through leakages.

A leak in Enfield has also caused traffic chaos over the last week after Thames Water began emergency roadworks to fix pipes underneath a key borough road.

Cliff Roney, a GMB activist and contributor to Channel 4’s recent exposé Dirty Business, said: “Once again, Thames Water’s fed-up customers are the ones paying the price for this company’s woeful mismanagement.

“If Thames Water put as much effort into fixing leaks as they did into lining their senior managers’ pockets, this ban wouldn’t be necessary.

“It’s not unreasonable for customers paying hundreds of pounds a year to expect to be able to water their garden or let their children enjoy a paddling pool.

“The only way to give customers the service they deserve and protect water workers from a failing employer is to bring it back under public ownership.”

Newly-installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously suggested that nationalising utility companies such as Thames Water would be among his priorities, but he has yet to make an announcement to confirm the move since entering Number 10 yesterday (Monday 20th).

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