South West Water Confident No Hosepipe Bans for Devon and Cornwall in 2024

Following a period of unprecedented drought that led to hosepipe bans across Cornwall and parts of North Devon in 2022, and subsequent restrictions in other parts of Devon in 2023, South West Water has brought reassuring news to the residents of Devon and Cornwall.

The water provider is confident that there will be no need for hosepipe bans in 2024, attributing this positive outlook to a combination of factors including substantial investment, beneficial weather patterns, and community efforts to conserve water.

Reservoirs Replenished

The heartening news follows the full recharge of the area’s two largest strategic reservoirs—Roadford Reservoir in Devon and Colliford Reservoir in Cornwall. Both reservoirs now boast over 90% storage capacity, with Roadford at a full 100% and Colliford not far behind at 98.5%. This is a significant improvement from the previous year, where Roadford and Colliford’s levels were at 68% and 60% respectively.

Investment in Water Security

To bolster water resilience and ensure a continuous supply, South West Water has committed over £125 million towards increasing water resources by 30% in Devon and by 45% in Cornwall. Projects in Devon have already been completed, with 70% of the plans in Cornwall in progress. These projects include the development of desalination facilities in Par and a new water treatment works in Porth, showcasing the company’s dedication to long-term water sustainability.

Community and Company Efforts

David Harris, the Drought and Resilience Director at South West Water, highlighted the collective effort in achieving these results. According to David, recent heavy rainfall significantly contributed to the replenishment of reservoir levels, but over a third of the additional storage capacity was achieved through the company’s own supply interventions and customers’ water-saving measures.

David emphasised the company’s ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure and encouraging water conservation among its customers. This approach, along with the positive impact of recent weather conditions, has placed South West Water in a strong position to manage any upcoming weather challenges without imposing water restrictions.

Looking to the Future

South West Water’s Water Resources Management Plan is geared towards ensuring a secure, sufficient, and safe water supply over the next 25 years. The plan focuses not only on meeting human needs but also on protecting the environment and supporting local wildlife. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company is also actively working on identifying and repairing leaks more efficiently and promoting water conservation through its “Water is Precious” campaign.

With these comprehensive measures in place, South West Water is setting a standard for water management that aims to safeguard the region against future droughts while supporting both the community’s and the environment’s needs.