Households across Essex have been issued with a hosepipe ban for the first time in 29 years.
The restriction, introduced by Essex and Suffolk Water, follows the Environment Agency’s declaration of drought across East Anglia and comes into effect during a period of prolonged dry weather and high demand.
A similar ban in Essex was last in place from June 12, 1997 to April 3, 1998, and was only lifted once the company was confident that water supplies would meet demand for the following summer.
The Essex ban remained in effect until April 3, 1998, when Essex and Suffolk Water judged that water resources had recovered enough to safely remove restrictions.
Resources were able to recover due to an increase in rainfall over winter, as well as from the water saved by implementing restrictions, as this lowered demand across the county.
Essex saw restrictions end in early April, but Suffolk remained under the ban until May 14 due to differences in local supply conditions.
The ban was first imposed company-wide on June 12, 1997, but conditions improved more quickly in Essex.
A temporary recycling scheme launched in July 1997 formed part of the company’s wider drought response, aimed at strengthening the water supply system while resources gradually recovered.
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The current hosepipe ban prohibits the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, filling swimming pools or paddling pools, and cleaning patios or windows.
It also applies to filling hot tubs, maintaining ponds and ornamental fountains, and cleaning private leisure boats.
Demand on the network has risen by 29 million litres per day - roughly equivalent to the daily needs of another city the size of Chelmsford.
The ban took effect from 12:01am on Monday, August 3.
Essex and Suffolk Water says the restrictions are necessary to protect water supplies and reduce environmental pressure during the ongoing drought.
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