Severn Trent customers to be fined if found using excessive amounts of water
As drought declared, Severn Trent taking drastic action
Severn Trent is threatening to fine customers caught wasting water during the current drought, as the company becomes the latest to announce a hosepipe ban.
The water supplier, which serves over eight million people across the Midlands and Wales, issued the warning. It said that hosepipe use is responsible for approximately 10% of all water usage during the summer months.
The company has already introduced a number of measures to reduce water consumption, including offering free water-saving devices to customers and implementing a hosepipe ban. However, they now say that further action needs to be taken.
Warning and fines
Severn Trent customers who are caught using a hosepipe could face a fine of up to £1,000. The company said that it will be "stepping up patrols" to ensure that the ban is being adhered to.
The company's water efficiency manager, Doug Clarke, said: "We are very grateful to our customers for the efforts they have made to reduce water consumption so far. However, we need to go further. A hosepipe ban is an important step in reducing demand on our water resources.
"We will be monitoring the situation closely and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary."
Other water companies
Several other water companies have already announced hosepipe bans, including South East Water, Southern Water, and Yorkshire Water. More are expected to follow suit as the drought continues.
The Environment Agency has warned that the drought could be the worst in 50 years. The agency is urging people to save water wherever possible.
You can find more information on water-saving tips on the Environment Agency's website.
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