Thames Water has warned that they are preparing “for potential water shortages” which will lead to a hosepipe ban despite customers paying eyewatering bills.
Thames Water chief executive Chris Weston appeared before MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and said they are doing “all we need to” to prepare for shortages.
Weston said that Thames Water has learned lessons when in 2022 they came “dangerously close” to running out of water.
He does not believe that they will run out of water but has suggested that hosepipe bans could be put in place which will affect 16 million customers.
The Environment Agency has warned that the UK has had its driest start of the year for 61 years and there is a risk of a drought.
Weston said Thames Water is making sure they have assets in place to ensure reservoirs are full and maintenance is undertaking “so we are as prepared as best we can be for a drought.”
He told MPs, “At the moment, from what I can see, we have learned the lessons from the situation in 2022 and we are doing all we need to do at the moment to prepare for water shortages.”
“I hope that is not necessary,” he added.
“I am confident we won’t run out of water, I’m not confident we won’t have to restrict usage, because that will depend on what the weather does and what rainfall happens between now and the summer.”
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