An appeal to take the hosepipe ban seriously, which begins today (Friday), has been made by Manx Utilities.

The authority (MUA) has issued the ban after a long spell of hot and dry weather and is appealing to residents to begin ’using water wisely’ as there are indications that normal rainfall will be less than 40% over the next three months.

The lack of rain, along with ’significant’ evaporation, could mean that reservoir levels will become ’critically low’. Therefore restrictions to domestic properties have been put in place until further notice.

Executive director at MUA, Adrian Dobbins said: ’To those who may ask, "We’ve just had rain, surely I don’t need to worry about this?" I would say this is an unprecedented time given the very hot and dry weather.

’None of us can be complacent about this, our water stocks are a serious concern and we would appeal to everyone to consider how and when they use water.’

A spokesman from the Isle of Man Met Office added: ’From Friday afternoon onwards the Isle of Man will be expecting a further week of largely dry conditions with maximum temperatures widely reaching the high teens and low twenties, as high pressure returns.’

The authority has not only placed restrictions on the use of hosepipes or sprinklers for washing cars and watering gardens at domestic addresses, but also urges the public to think about how they are using water within their homes and in the workplace.

It states that a hosepipe can use 540 litres in an hour, which is equivalent to what a family of four would use in one day. A sprinkler left on overnight could supply a family with water for a week, it added.

All government departments have been asked to review their water usage.

Looking across the pond, United Utilities has lifted its hosepipe ban recently but it is understood that this authority can utilise water from other sources, which is something that is limited in the island.

The UK Water Industry indicated that by having a hosepipe ban and using water sensibly it could reduce water usage between five to 10 percent. MUA say that this is ’crucial in protecting the island’s raw water stocks’.

Those who continue to use their hosepipes could face a fine of up to £2,000.

Although Schedule 5, paragraph 20.(1) of The Water Act 1991 states a £1,000 fine, this amount was changed in January this year to a fine of £2,000 following The Interpretation Act 2015, which was amended by the Statute Law Revision Act 2017.

The island has two redundant reservoirs, but if both were to be brought back online it would only cover customer demand for a few days, the authority told the Courier.

MUA is also assisting its customers with water leakage at their properties.

A large amount of leakages in the island are located in private supplies. The authority continues to encourage the public to repair leaks when found, but due to the ’serious’ circumstances it is now actively assisting customers with these problems.

Since the initial announcement of the ban, water usage has decreased in the last 24 hours thanks to public support.

MUA has confirmed that water levels at all reservoirs, except West Baldwin, remain the same following the heavy rainfall on August 1 to 2. West Baldwin is showing a small 2% increase similar to last weekend’s rainfall.