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A North-South divide in reservoir water levels has emerged as the heatwave continues.

While reservoirs in the North have been severely depleted by the extended hot weather, Southerners are enjoying reservoir sailing excursions and abundant water supplies.

Millions of northerners have been slapped with hosepipe bans as these amazing pictures show.

At Kent’s Bewl Water locals are taking relaxing sailing trips across the reservoir – the largest stretch of open water in South East England

The scorching summer heat has seen United Utilities (UU) impose a temporary ban affecting seven million people in the north-west of England from August 5 to ‘safeguard essential supplies’.

Shocking images have shown dry, cracked earth at parched reservoirs as the UK fries in its hottest spell since 1976.

Homeowners and drivers in Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire face a maximum fine of £1,000 if they flout the Temporary Use Ban.

But while those in the north prepare for dirty cars and parched lawns, at Kent’s Bewl Water locals are taking relaxing sailing trips across the reservoir – the largest stretch of open water in South East England, which attracts 150,000 visitors a year.

And despite hosepipe bans imposed in other parts of the UK, Southern Water has no plans to do the same.

Ben Earl, water efficiency manager at Southern Water, said: ‘Water is a precious resource and it’s important that we all do what we can to reduce wastage, come rain or shine.

The dried up bed of Yarrow Reservoir near Bolton is pictured yesterday ahead of the hosepipe ban in the North West from August 5

‘Our customers are already among the most water efficient in the country but there are simple things you can do to reduce waste – and cut your water bill.

‘In the heat wave, people should be neighbourly – preserve supplies by using water butts to water plants – brown lawns recover quickly.

‘Other tips include simple measures such as turning off taps when you’re brushing your teeth, swapping a bath for a four-minute shower and watering your garden with harvested rain can make a huge difference to water supply levels across the region.’

Chalk layers in the south help retain water deep underground during wet weather.

Water demand in the region – which takes in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent – is currently around 100 million litres more a day than the same time last year.

The amount of extra water is equivalent to nearly 11 million full watering cans.

Thirlmere, a reservoir in the Lake District close to Grasmere, created to carry fresh water to Manchester, is pictured with cracked beds

But despite the scorching heat sending demand soaring, Bewl Water near Tunbridge Wells – which can hold more than 31,000 million litres of water – is currently enjoying water levels of around 90 per cent.

The figure contrasts starkly with regions served by United Utilities, where the average level was 63.3 per cent for the week ending July 15.

When Bewl Water levels plummeted to about 33 per cent by November last year, Southern Water pumped the equivalent of ten cups of tea for every man, woman and child in the WORLD from the nearby River Medway and River Teise.

Around 70 per cent of water in the region comes from underground sources, compared to seven per cent from reservoirs and 23 per cent from rivers.

During wet weather, water seeps through the ground and is stored in ‘aquifers’, which is pumped to the surface before being treated and supplied.

The use of water metres so customers only pay for the water they use is also believed to be have improved efficiency.



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