How are people adapting the East of England hosepipe ban?
Residents in the East of England are adjusting to temporary hosepipe bans as heatwaves and low rainfall threaten water supplies. While some residents prioritize animal welfare, others are using the restrictions as an educational opportunity to discuss sustainability with children.
Why it matters
Climate-driven water scarcity is forcing changes in daily habits and highlighting the importance of resource management in the UK.
Image source, Laurence Coss/BBC Image caption, Cambridge Water said limiting hosepipe use could reduce demand by about 5% and save five million litres of water per day
People in the driest part of the UK are adapting to a hosepipe ban for the first time in a decade , after a series of heatwaves and lack of rain left the region on the edge of drought.
Anglian Water, Affinity Water and Cambridge Water, who supply much of the East of England, are implementing "temporary use bans" to protect customer supplies and the environment.
"Dry weather depletes our water, and hot weather means we use more of it," the Environment Agency pointed out.
So at a time when the temptation is to use more water than usual, how are people responding to the regulations?
Image source, Sandra Davis Image caption, Sandra says her dog Lili does not like the heat
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in