Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 26TH JANUARY - 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 | 21 Operations & Assets "significantly above average" in January, February and March to reduce the likelihood of water restrictions later this year. Mike Pocock, director of asset strategy at Affinity Water, says: "We are constantly man- aging the water we have, through investing in new resources, installing new pipelines to move water around our network, and finding and fixing leaks as quickly as possible. "With our water resources at low levels, we are continuing to ask our customers to help by saving water, which can make a real difference. However, the weather remains one thing we cannot control, which is why we keep our water efficiency activities and messaging going year-round to remind peo- ple that water is a precious resource – what- ever the weather." Recharge period Meanwhile, SES Water says that last month's heavy rainfall has so far not been enough to "top up depleted water sources". Its whole- sale services manager Tom Kelly says: "Fol- lowing a dry winter last year and the start of this winter seeing little rainfall, we are hop- ing for more of the recent wet weather to refill groundwater sources that have remained well below average for many months. "October to March is the critical recharge period, and autumn rainfall was very low: October was dry, with only 35 per cent of long-term average rainfall during the month, followed by only half of the expected amount of rain in November. December was a lot wetter, but above average rainfall will still be needed from now through to March to minimise the likelihood of water restrictions in the spring." Thames Water is currently in a bet- ter position than SES and Affinity. Stuart White, media relations manager at Thames Water, says: "December's rainfall has helped, and we're rapidly filling our res- ervoirs. We can't be complacent, though, and will need to continue to monitor the situation very closely for the rest of the win- ter, particularly for the areas where we rely on groundwater sources." Ofwat's Russell says the regulator will "continue to drive water companies to put resilience at the heart of everything they do". Should a drought occur, their performance will be carefully scrutinised to ensure the regulator can be confident in their ability to deliver long-term resilience. Companies in the south east of England will be waiting nervously to see how much rainfall the winter brings. If there is enough, they'll be saved; if not, another hosepipe ban could be on the cards. And all the while, Ofwat will be watching. WATER LEVELS AT BEWL RESERVOIR, AS OF JANUARY 2018, 54% FULL 100 80 60 40 20 0 Percentage full Apr 17 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 18 2017 -2018 CURRENT RAINFALL POSITION IN THE SOUTH EAST, % LONG-TERM AVERAGE OVERALL PATTERNS OF RAINFALL SINCE OCTOBER 2016 220% 200% 190% 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Source: Environment Agency Source: Environment Agency Oct 16 Nov Dec Jan 17 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sep 17 Oct 17 Nov 17 Dec 17 Source: Southern Water May 17 Jun 17 Jul 17 Aug 17 Jan 17 Feb 17 Mar 17 Apr 17 Oct 16 Nov 16 Dec 16 Actual (2017-18) Historical 13-year trend: Average (Oct 2000 - Sep 2013) Minimum (Oct 2000 - Sep 2013)

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