Request to ban non-essential water use for businesses in East Devon
Not content to pollute our bathing beaches with sewage, SWW now wants to ban filling or maintaining certain non-domestic swimming pools.
The Telegraph reports that Angela Eagle, the Environment Secretary, has fast-tracked the applications from SWW and South East Water because of concerns about reservoir levels in those areas, and will issue a ruling within days.
The Telegraph also says: If Ms Eagle agrees to the measures, businesses that regularly use water for non-essential purposes will effectively be forced to close, and could be liable for compensation from water companies.
Swimming pools in areas under the ban cannot be refilled or maintained, while companies cannot top up ponds, clean offices or run car washes.
A non-essential water ban was last used in 2006 in Surrey and before that in 1995 in Yorkshire.
According to Richard Foord MP, in an August report:
SWW’s leaky infrastructure led to the loss of more than 107 million litres daily between 2024 and 2025. [SWW currently plans to halve this leakage of treated water by 2050!]
Mr Foord acknowledged that dry ground can damage water mains, but said the problem has been worsened by long-term neglect of infrastructure and he criticised South West Water for awarding large bonuses “such as to its former Chief Executive.”
He is now calling for the Government to include stricter measures on reducing leaks in the upcoming Clean Water Bill, as promised in the recent King’s Speech.
Mr Foord said: “Infrastructure investment needs to be a priority for water companies.
“Leakage repairs have flat-lined since the late 1990s, so the regulator that replaces Ofwat will need to have teeth.
“South West Water and other water companies need to be held to account for their persistent failures.”
Here is how South West Water explain their actions:
South West Water has applied to ban non-essential water use for businesses in East Devon
www.southwestwater.co.uk Non-essential use ban application
We have applied for a ban on non essential water use for some businesses across Mid Devon and parts of East Devon and Dorset, after a lack of significant rainfall following a prolonged period of exceptionally dry weather continues to place significant pressure on local water resources.
The application has been sent to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for a drought order which would allow the water company to introduce restrictions on non-essential water use for affected businesses in the Exeter, Exmouth, Crediton, Sidmouth, Tiverton and surrounding areas across Mid and parts of East Devon, as well as a small part of Dorset including Lyme Regis.
The proposed non-essential use ban would include restrictions on:
- watering plants on commercial premises
- filling or maintaining certain non-domestic swimming pools and ponds
- vehicle washing
- cleaning non-domestic buildings and premises
- cleaning industrial plant
- dust suppression
- other specified non-essential uses of mains water.
A non-essential use ban (NEUB) would not apply to households customers, who remain under a hosepipe ban across the wider South West region. Find out more information about the hosepipe ban.
Sam Bottomley, South West Water’s Director for Drinking Water Services, said: “The South West is entering a critical phase of an exceptionally prolonged drought. While recent rainfall is helping, water resources remain under significant pressure and South West Water continues to rely heavily on water stored in reservoirs to maintain supplies.
Every day we continue to draw on our reservoirs to keep water flowing to homes, businesses and communities while river flows remain below the levels needed to support public water supply.
Many people understandably think a drought is over once it starts raining. In reality, recovery takes much longer. After such a prolonged dry period, rainfall first has to replenish dry soils and the wider environment before rivers return to seasonal levels. Only then can reservoirs begin to recover properly.
Some of those rivers still remain at their lowest levels and with no significant rain forecast for the coming weeks, the immediate challenge is reducing demand and preserving enough stored water to maintain supplies until river flows and reservoir levels recover.
Applying for a drought order is a responsible step to help protect the environment and preserve the water we have available. Taking action now gives us the best opportunity to protect supplies, reducing the risk of further restrictions and supply outages while water resources remain under pressure.
While household customers would not be impacted, we recognise these restrictions have an impact on businesses, and we will provide clear guidance and support if the application is approved.
In the meantime, the hosepipe ban remains in place for all of our customers, and need customers to continue to take steps to reduce their water use as we do everything we can to protect water supplies.”
We are continuing to closely monitor river flows, reservoir levels and other water resources as the region enters the autumn and winter period.
We are also investing in the resilience of the region’s water supplies, including fixing around 70 leaks a day, strengthening our network, improving reservoirs and treatment works, developing new water resources and supporting customers to use water more efficiently.
No word from our former MP, Simon Jupp, now firmly part of “Team SWW” – Owl
