Hosepipe bans don't apply to new lawns

Last week United Utilities announced a hosepipe ban in the North West of England amid fears that water supplies are beginning to run low but never fear, the TGA (Turfgrass Growers Association) have written to the water company and secured a special consideration for newly laid lawns.

United Utilities have said

“We have made a concession for the watering in of newly laid turf as per your advice which is used in the UKWIR Guidance (UKWIR = UK Water Industry Research).  As such the use of a hose pipe within the United Utilities region is permitted where there is a contract in place to lay the turf and water it in for the period of 28 days”

Some growers are having difficulty in harvesting turf in this dry weather but Q Lawns are lucky enough to have modern equipment that can overcome the problems. “Turf may seem a slightly dry when it’s delivered to you” says Chris Carr, Sales and Marketing Manager, “but if we were to send it to you nice and moist in these temperatures, it would soon deteriorate.  Better to have it a bit dry, install it as soon as it arrives and then really soak it with water.  Water every evening until it’s established and you’ll have a fabulous lawn. In the main, there’s no need to worry about hose pipe bans. The UK Water Industry Research Guidelines make allowance for watering newly installed lawns because they’re so good at conserving water in the long term”

 Q Lawns have looked at other water companies’ web sites and elsewhere in the UK, the situation on the 21^st July is as follows:

Anglian Water:

Reservoirs are 85% full and so Anglian Water is not anticipating a hosepipe ban. In any case, they make an allowance for metered customers who lay a new lawn with turf.

Severn Trent Water:

Don’t anticipate a ban but they do ask customers to be sensible about water use in the garden.

Dee Valley Water

Currently no hosepipe ban or other restrictions on water use for customers supplied by Dee Valley Water.

South West Water

While speculation about drought in other areas of the country grows, South West Water is reassuring customers that water restrictions in the South West are highly unlikely.

Southern Water

Water Planning and Strategy Manager Meyrick Gough said: “As we’ve all seen in the media, there are hosepipe restrictions in the north-west of England. We don’t anticipate having to impose a ban in the South East but we ask customers to play their part and use water wisely.”

Thames Water

Following media reports on below-average rainfall and possible hosepipe restrictions in the northwest of England, we would like to reassure customers that we do not foresee having to impose any restrictions this summer for our customers in London and the Thames Valley.

Yorkshire  Water
We've seen the driest January to June rainfall period since 1929 (Met Office data) and between April and June we had 35% of the average rainfall expected for this time of year.  However, we have no plans to introduce any water restrictions at this time.