Northern Ireland

Hosepipe ban in north to be lifted tomorrow

NI Water introduced a hosepipe ban last month. Picture by Justin Kernoghan
NI Water introduced a hosepipe ban last month. Picture by Justin Kernoghan NI Water introduced a hosepipe ban last month. Picture by Justin Kernoghan

NI Water has announced it will lift a hosepipe ban imposed on the north from noon tomorrow.

The ban has been in force since June 29 following an extended spell of hot, dry weather.

The company said the ban will be lifted thanks to a drop in water demand.

Chief Executive Sara Venning said demands for water had dropped to "near normal levels".

Demand had been around 30% higher than normal during the hot weather.

Ms Venning said water treatment works had struggled so much that interruptions to water supply were "imminent".

She said the water system was now "coping comfortably" with demand.

"This allows us to lift the hosepipe ban from noon tomorrow," she said.

“We would stress, however, that a continued focus on water conservation is essential.  Ideally, we would like to see demand reduced still further or at least maintained at its present level to avoid the prospect of the ban having to be reintroduced. This is achievable if we continue to use water wisely."

She said the company is monitoring water levels.

"Recent rainfall has been a welcome development and while it has certainly helped our farmers and gardeners, the amount of rain has not been sufficient to have a positive impact on levels in many of our impounding reservoirs," she said.