The Environment Agency outlines future water restrictions

The Environment Agency has said the hosepipe ban is only the first measure to help save water in the drought.

If water levels continue to drop then in the second stage non-essential users such as golf courses and car washes will be asked to stop using water. Following that, public and commercial swimming pools will have to close along with water intensive industries like food processors that use mains supplies.

Finally there will a “rota system” where water is only turned on at certain times of the day and certain areas will share stand-pipes in the street.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said more severe restrictions could be brought in by the end of this year.

“In a worst case scenario [these measures are] possible if people are not being water efficient and saving water.”

Edited from The Daily Telegraph