Hosepipe ban, MP cooling call and gigafactory pledge put West Country water under pressure
As Wessex Water imposes its first hosepipe ban in half a century, a Somerset MP is pushing for mandatory cooling in new homes and a major local factory has pledged not to draw from a nearby river.
Wessex Water has introduced a hosepipe ban for the first time in 50 years, affecting Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Bath, the Wiltshire Times and Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard reported [1][2].
Somerset County Gazette and Bridgwater Mercury said the restrictions were brought in because hot and dry weather is putting pressure on water supplies and impose legal restrictions on non-essential outdoor water use [3][4][5][6].
Amid the dry conditions, Somerset MP Gideon Amos has called for air conditioning to be made a legal requirement in new homes, citing rising temperatures, public health risks and outdated building regulations, according to Somerset County Gazette [7].
At the same time, concerns that a new £4bn Somerset "gigafactory" would be cooled using water from a nearby river have been allayed, Somerset County Gazette and Bridgwater Mercury reported [8][9]. Building One within the Gravity enterprise zone is expected to be operational by late-2027, and Agratas has made what the reports describe as a "cast-iron pledge" regarding the nearby river [8][9].
Taken together, the reports point to household water restrictions, proposed building-cooling rules and industrial water pledges emerging as the region deals with hotter, drier conditions [1][4][7][8][9].
Sources
- Wiltshire Times: Wessex Water introduces first hosepipe ban in 50 years
- Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Wessex Water introduces first hosepipe ban in 50 years
- Somerset County Gazette: All the rules and exemptions as Somerset hosepipe ban announced
- Somerset County Gazette: Wessex Water announces first hosepipe ban in Somerset for 50 years
- Bridgwater Mercury: All the rules and exemptions as Somerset hosepipe ban announced
- Bridgwater Mercury: Wessex Water announces first hosepipe ban in Somerset for 50 years
- Somerset County Gazette: Somerset MP calls for air conditioning as a legal requirement in new homes
- Somerset County Gazette: Fears new £4bn Somerset 'gigafactory' to be cooled using river water allayed
- Bridgwater Mercury: Fears new £4bn Somerset 'gigafactory' to be cooled using river water allayed
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