Yorkshire Water has finally lifted its hosepipe ban.
It comes as there are four flood warnings in and around York, with the River Ouse predicted to rise to 3.6m today.
The ending of the drought order – imposed on 11 July – follows days of torrential rain.
Yorkshire Water says reservoir levels are now 91.6%, and Hull aquifer levels are at 77%. This means that available water resources across reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater sources are above average for this time of year (85.1%), and restrictions can safely be lifted.
People are now able to use water as usual, with the end of the restrictions coming into effect immediately.
The hosepipe ban followed the driest spring in 132 years and a hot summer.
The private water company says the hosepipe restrictions have helped save around 3.1 billion litres of water, or the equivalent of 69 days of York’s average usage.
It also says that during the 14 weeks of the ban, Yorkshire Water fixed almost 15,000 leaks.
There are four flood warnings (flooding is expected) in and near York today:
- River Ouse at York – riverside properties
- River Ouse at York – St George’s Field and Queen’s Staith
- River Ouse at Naburn Lock
- River Derwent at Stamford Bridge – The Weir Caravan Park and Kexby Bridge
The river level as measured by the Viking Recorder is predicted to peak at 3.6m at 3pm today (Wednesday, 10 December).
The top of the normal range is 1.9m.
Dave Kaye, director of water and wastewater at Yorkshire Water, said: “Continuing those water-saving actions when we finally started seeing rainfall, as well as us making use of drought orders and permits, meant that our reservoirs could recover as much as possible – and it’s part of the reason why we’re able to end the restrictions earlier than we initially thought.”
