Water firm admits planning for worst case scenario as Wimbleball started running dry

AFTER refusing to answer questions from the Free Press about the crisis with water levels in Exmoor’s Wimbleball Reservoir, South West Water (SWW) has chosen instead to talk to the BBC.

The Free Press twice asked SWW about fears Wimbleball could run dry as it dropped to a never-before-seen low of 12.5 per cent capacity.

But, the water company once labelled by a West Somerset MP as the ‘worst in the country’ and recently given the worst possible rating by the Environment Agency (EA) because of the high levels of pollution it has been causing, ignored the awkward questions.

Instead, it complained about the newspaper’s headlines and denied it had refused to answer because it had provided out-of-date generic comments which had already been reported.

It said the Free Press should instead carry public relations messages to emphasise the need for everybody to take measures to save water and to not cause people to worry about the situation.

Now, SWW drought programme director Richard Stanbrook has had similar questions put to him by the BBC and admitted emergency plans were being worked on in case of running out of water as the company feared the worst might happen.

Mr Stanbrook told the BBC: “We were close but every step we took meant that it was not something that was very likely to happen.

“We worked closely with the Environment Agency, with everybody involved in water to improve our capability to supply water to customers.

“We did, in the very unlikely event of running out of water, we were working with the EA and other stakeholders on any emergency plans.”

Mr Stanbrook said a hosepipe ban introduced in July was likely to be in force for a ‘significant period’ because SWW reservoirs needed ‘a strong recharge over the course of the winter’.

He hoped customers would ‘lean in’ and continue to reduce their water usage.

SWW has also asked the Government for permission for a ‘non-essential water use’ ban, on some businesses such as car washes and window cleaners.

SWW’s fears Wimbleball could run dry were backed up by EA area director Mark Rice, who told the BBC: “We were close.”

Mr Rice said although it was close, the Westcountry would not run out of water this winter.

However, he said England needed 120 per cent of its typical rainfall to be out of the current drought situation by next spring, or the country would see the crisis continue into the summer of 2027.

Mr Rice said: “If we get average or below average rainfall, we are potentially going to be in a prolonged drought situation going into next summer.

“It means we are going to have to work really closely with the water companies to ensure we can manage water supplies sensibly and ensure there is no disruption to supply, either this winter or into next summer.

“We need to be really clear with the public, our water resources are reduced, but they are not under threat.

“We will not run out of water this winter.”