Continued rainfall across much of Yorkshire over the last week has led to a slight increase in groundwater and reservoir levels for the first time in eight months.
Yorkshire’s reservoirs stocks are now 30.8% – a 0.2% increase for the seven days to Monday. Heavy rainfall on Monday afternoon and into Tuesday morning will not have made its way through the catchment to the reservoirs.
The recent rainfall follows a historically dry first half of the year, drought declaration for Yorkshire by the Environment Agency in June, and the hottest summer on record in the county.
While the rain is welcome, hosepipe restrictions remain in place and will continue until reservoirs have recovered over the autumn and into winter.
Yorkshire Water will continue to review resource levels and remove the restrictions once the reservoirs have recovered.
Dave Kaye, Yorkshire Water’s director of water services, said:
“With the start of autumn, we’ve seen a lot more rain. It’s incredibly welcome, and it has had a positive impact on our reservoirs and river levels.
"Further heavy rain earlier this week will still be making its way through the catchments, which will also contribute to improvements in reservoir and groundwater levels over the coming days.
“While this is positive, we still have a long way to go to get our reservoir levels back to where they need to be. Reservoirs are still the lowest they have ever been for this time of year, and we need this wet weather to continue throughout the autumn and winter.
“We were recently granted a number of drought orders and permits which allow us to abstract more water from the Ouse and the Wharfe and to reduce the flows out of reservoirs in the south and north-west of the region.
"This will lower the burden on our reservoirs, allowing them to recover during periods of rainfall like we have been seeing."
Dave added:
“We’re also asking customers to continue doing what they can to save water so that our reservoirs can benefit as much as possible during periods of rainfall – they've been doing a brilliant job so far, with demand down 10%.
“At the same time, we’re going to continue working hard at bringing leakage down. We’ve accelerated our response to leaks since the implementation of the hosepipe ban – completing repairs 33% faster, on average.”
Harrogate-based Sporting Influence Foundation to tackle 24 climbs in 24 hours
Giant vegetables take centre stage at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show
Alpamare waterpark to be sold to 'protect its future' with private investment
Roadworks causing growing disruption in Harrogate and Knaresborough, officials admit
Yorkshire artist brings Harrogate's Old Market Hall back to life
Martin House hosts first children's palliative care conference
Judge appointed to lead inquiry into North Yorkshire mental health trust
Harrogate group raise more than £40,000 with cycle to Bordeaux
Scotton pub wins Tripadvisor award for seventh year running
Almost 2,000 people sign Knaresborough landslip petition
Police appeal after Range Rover damaged in Knaresborough
St Aidan's teacher recognised at national Teacher of the Year Awards
Bramham Park to host its first Christmas market
Harvest gown unveiled for flower show's 50th anniversary
Ripon's Mario's Restaurant named among Tripadvisor's top 10%
Harrogate Rugby Club reveals plans for clubhouse expansion and padel courts
Police appeal after Lister House minibus vandalised in Ripon
Council urged to "show me the money" and provide evidence of home-to-school policy change savings
Kate Mosse and Prue Leith among stars of Harrogate Literature Festival
Ripon among UK's top cities for missing parcels
