Earlier today South West Water issued a press release, which reads as follows:
South West Water can confirm we will lift the hosepipe restrictions in Cornwall and Upper Tamar on 25th September. Since the restrictions have been in place, there have been positive developments due to the collaboration of customers, South West Water’s investments, and recent rainfall.
Colliford reservoir is at 57% storage, up 19% from last year. Climate change has shown how unpredictable weather patterns can be and we must continue to protect the region’s rivers and beautiful natural resources. We want to emphasise that water is a valuable resource and urge residents, businesses, and visitors to use water responsibly and Save Every Drop.
We will continue to closely monitor water resources, the weather and demand. We have been working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure any decisions are taken responsibly. We appreciate the efforts of our customers, visitors and businesses in conserving water.
The BBC report of the long overdue event included a quote from yours truly:
It reads as follows:
Devon-based environmental campaigner Jim Hunt, who has been monitoring reservoir levels across both counties, questioned why it had taken so long to lift the hosepipe ban.
“I’m very pleased it’s been lifted at long last but I don’t understand why it’s taken so long,” he said.
“It’s been raining, raining and raining and the hosepipe ban is still in place. I don’t think it’s fair.
“The residents of Cornwall have been unable to wash their cars, they can’t pressure wash their drives, they’re paying their water bills… what are they getting in return?”
The BBC article also included a quote from Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society:
It reads as follows:
The UK still gets enough rainfall to manage over the course of the year.
Our climate has changed, it’s become wetter, it’s also become warmer and sunnier – you get periods when you get too much rain and periods when you don’t get enough.
The key here is how we can become more resilient, capture and store that rainfall when it falls and use it when we have periods without rainfall [and] drought conditions.
Here’s how the water level in Roadford Lake looked on Monday:
Here are some moving pictures of the Lake from a different angle:
At the end of the day, I cannot help but wonder when the BBC will be able to report that the hosepipe ban in West Devon will be lifted “in a month’s time”?
An unanticipated present for the long suffering residents of West Devon, just in time for Christmas?
