Robert Light, Northern Chair for the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Customers would find it unacceptable for essential water use in the home to be restricted so we think it’s right for United Utilities to take action now to help alleviate that risk by preparing for a hosepipe ban. We’ve been assured that Blue Badge holders and customers on the company’s Priority Services Register will be exempt from any restrictions but we’d urge any other vulnerable customers who are unable to use a watering can, for instance, to get in touch with the company.”
“In the meantime we’d encourage customers to keep using water wisely and for the company to do everything in its power to reduce the amount of water lost through leaking pipes, in the hope that we may still be able to avoid restrictions.”