Stocks remain low despite rain - Yorkshire Water

The water firm has warned the wet weekend did not significantly boost river and reservoir levels in the region

Yorkshire Water has warned that reservoir levels remain low, despite notable rainfall in the region over the bank holiday weekend.

Its reservoir stocks have been falling since late January due to one of the driest springs on record, and increased customer demand during warmer temperatures.

They dropped to 62.9% on Monday from 66.1% the previous week, which is far below the average of 87.8% typically seen at this time of year.

The firm said the recent wet weather caused a "very small" increase in river flows, particularly in the rivers Ure, Nidd, Wharfe and Aire, but many were dropping back down towards the "historically low levels" seen earlier in May.

Dave Kaye, the company's director of water, said: "The rain over the weekend and the picture for an unsettled week ahead is a welcome relief for the region after a very dry spell.

"While the rainfall over the weekend helped gardens recover, and will help trees and plants in full spring growth, gardens and trees will have taken most of the rainfall, leaving less to run off into rivers, groundwater or to top up reservoirs."

Yorkshire Water thanked customers for helping to create a drop in overall water usage in recent days and urged people to continue to save water where possible.

"Coupled with wind and some sunshine, a lot of the rainfall has quickly evaporated," added Mr Kaye.

"Soils are also very dry after nearly four months of very dry weather, so will soak up a lot of rain, holding the water and not allowing it to flow to rivers or groundwater."

Andy Shaw, head of water production at Yorkshire Water, said a hosepipe ban remains a possibility, but the company is working hard to avoid it.

There are little steps people can take to help avoid a hosepipe ban, he added, including washing laundry on the 'eco' setting and only when the washing machine is full.

"We'd also really urge customers to use a watering can, rather than a hosepipe, if they want to water their flowers and plants," he said.

"There's lots of simple things customers could implement today and make that real difference for the future."

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