BB FANS

Saturday June 4, 05:38 PM
ITN

Water restrictions are likely to be in place "for the foreseeable future" in southern England after one of the driest winters on record. \

Southern Water issued the alert as it imposed the UK's first hosepipe ban of the summer in parts of Sussex.

Rainfall across the country between November and May was the fourth lowest since 1914 according to Met Office figures, and suppliers fear the prospect of a hot summer could lead to widespread shortages in densely populated areas.

Sutton and East Surrey Water has already introduced restrictions on garden sprinklers and unattended hosepipe use, and other companies are also considering measures.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said the Weir Wood reservoir in East Grinstead had been reduced to nearly half its normal level, and the ban would be introduced in the surrounding area from Friday.

"The last six or seven months have all been below average. Even though it's rained recently that has only really helped to suppress demand by stopping people going out in the gardens," she said.

"The bans will last for the foreseeable future. It sounds like the old joke about the wrong sort of snow, but it's only during the winter and autumn that the ground is wet enough to replenish reservoirs."

Karen Blanchette of consumer group WaterVoice said it was "not surprising" that drought measures were being brought into force given the lack of rain.

"If we do get a hot summer it won't just be the south east that is affected," she said. "Other parts of the country will be introducing hosepipe bans."

FFS it's been pishing down here for months

incorrect.
---
human perception of weather conditions is generally very poor.
many think last year was cool, but it was still one of the warmest ever.

with no national water grid, the s.e will eventually be screwed.

oh well, nevermind.

Cal': Wrapped in shadows.

Dont be daft,cal!!!Hes in Scotland FFS!!Why do you think some of us defect??

Great, water shortages in the South of England.

Less ice cubes in your booze. That'll mean all you BBFans drunks from down there will be on here even more p*ssed up and making less sense than usual!

And Hippo's right, it's been teeming down here in Scotland for the last few days. Thunder and lightning today too.

It's been more fun looking out the window than at the E4 coverage.

You dont have the monopoly on t and L sweetie!!!Has been here in middle earth too!

Get the Hobbits away from the Party Tree!

No!No!!!Why cant we have fireworks???

bloody well am correct

pishing down for months, my livliehood depends on the weather, so i know what i'm talking about

Yeah, we've had quite a bit of rain too. Struggling to think what the weather was like in the winter, know it wasn't as bad as I've seen it snow wise.

Oh How I miss the scottish weather!!

It does make you more appreciative of when it is nice though.

If the shortage gets really bad maybe the pubs will have to stop watering their beer

That would screw their profits

Monday, 6 June, 2005,
BBC News

England and Wales have had their driest November to March period in 30 years, Met Office figures reveal.
The dry spell spanned two complete seasons across most of the UK with five consecutive months of below-average rainfall, a spokesman said.

Parts of central and south England had just 60% of their average rainfall.

But downpours in west and north Scotland saw them record 108% and 120% respectively. And April 2005 was wetter than average for the UK as a whole.

The Met Office was quick to rule out climate change as a possible cause of the unreliable weather.

"It is just the variability of the weather," spokesman Wayne Elliott said.

RAIN: NOVEMBER TO MARCH 2005
East Anglia 8.4in (214.6mm)
South-east and south-central England 10.2in (259.5mm)
The Midlands 11.3in (289.4mm)
East and north-east England 12.5in (319mm)
England 12.8in (324.4mm)
England and Wales 14.4in (364.7mm)
South-west England and Wales 18.8in (476.4mm)
East Scotland 22.2in (566.2mm)
North-west England and north Wales 24.2in (617.6mm)
West Scotland 37.2in (945.3mm)
Scotland 41.6in (1,057mm)

"Bearing in mind the effect of climate change, we should have had a wetter winter but it was not doing that, so we cannot blame climate change."

But water suppliers are warning a hot summer could lead to widespread shortages in densely populated areas.

Low supplies have already led to a hosepipe ban in parts of Sussex.

Sutton and East Surrey Water have also banned the use of garden sprinklers and unattended hosepipes, and other companies are considering measures.

A Southern Water spokeswoman said the Weir Wood reservoir in East Grinstead, West Sussex, had been reduced to nearly half its normal level.

England's 12.8in (324.4mm) of rain made it the country's driest November to March period since the one beginning in 1975, which saw 10.3in (260.5mm), and the 10th driest since 1914.

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight had just 58% of their average rainfall.

East Anglia and the Midlands had 8.4in (214.6mm) and 11.3in (289.4mm) - 73% of their average.

With 18.8in (476.4mm) of rain, it was also the driest November to March in 30 years in south-west England and Wales.

South-east and south-central England had just 10.2in (259.5mm), its driest November to March period since the one beginning in 1975, which had 7.4in (187.3mm), and the fourth driest since 1914.

Wet Scotland

East and north-east England had 12.5in (319mm), and north-west England and north Wales 24.2in (617.6mm).

England and Wales together had 14.4in (364.7mm) of rain, the driest November to March period since the one beginning in 1996, when 14.2in (361.4mm) fell.

But 41.6in (1,057mm) made it north Scotland's fifth wettest period since 1914.

While west Scotland had 37.2in (945.3mm), and east Scotland 22.2in (566.2mm) - 99% of its average.

Our hosepipe ban starts on Friday

Only just put my sunflowers in too