Hosepipe Ban Statement
26 October 2018 15:56
During the water supply issue that took place throughout June and July 2018 NI Water imposed a hosepipe ban restricting the use of water, for certain specified purposes by domestic customers.
NI Water imposed the ban under Article 116 of the Water & Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. In imposing the ban, NI Water’s primary aim was to reduce unnecessary consumption so as to ensure that customers remained in supply. NI Water is grateful for the co-operation of customers during this time.
Following the lifting of the ban on July 19th NI Water conducted a review of their interpretation of their powers under Article 116. As a result of this review, which included getting further legal opinion, NI Water now accepts that its interpretation of Article 116 was too broad and that it therefore had sought to ban certain activities that were not envisaged under the legislation, as currently drafted.
Accordingly, NI Water wishes to apologise to its customers for any inconvenience caused during this period. NI Water would again emphasise that at no time did it seek to mislead the public, rather its primary aim was to ensure all customers remained in supply and that businesses could function efficiently.