A HOSEPIPE ban has been imposed in the North West for the first time in 16 years — and it could last until well into 2011.

The restriction came into force today and those who ignore it have been warned that they risk being fined up to £1,000.

United Utilities said the ban, which prevents people using hosepipes to water gardens and cars, was necessary after the driest start to the year since records began.

Residents are being urged to report any neighbours flouting the ban, while staff from the water firm will also be out on the look-out.

The firm said: “We will not be heavy handed in enforcing it but we need people to respect the ban.”

Despite rainfall over the past week, reservoir stocks have fallen from around 60 per cent full to less than half in the past fortnight.

The ban will remain in place until reservoirs return to more than 80 per cent capacity, which United Utilities said could be as late as the spring.

However an MP criticised the firm which, despite a major programme of work on pipes in recent years, still loses an average of 460 million litres of water a day in leaks, the equivalent of 184 olympic-sized swimming pools.

Jake Berry, Rossendale and Darwen MP, said: “United Utilities has a real issue to address here, particularly because of the huge amounts of water lost every day in leaks.

“I am sure that people will abide by the hosepipe ban, but there will be many who wonder how it came to this after such a wet end to last year.”

Newly released figures from the Met Office showed that the North West has actually been one of the wettest areas of the country so far this year with a total of 339mm of rain falling, compared to an average of 311.7mm in the country as a whole.

But, crucially, the area has seen the country's biggest drop from normal rainfall levels.

There has been just 59 per cent of the usual rain in the North West, compared to 74 per cent nationally.

In the South West of England there has been 69 per cent of the normal rain expected but in the East and North East it is as high as 85 per cent.

John Sanders, United Utilities water regulation and strategy manager, said there were no plans at present to extend the hosepipe ban to businesses.

But further drought orders could be put in place. These may include taking more water from reservoirs and even the installation of temporary weirs to reduce the amount of water flowing into rivers.

Mr Sanders said: “Despite some recent rainfall, reservoir levels are still significantly lower than we would expect at this time of year and are now at a point where we need to impose some temporary restrictions on our customers.

“It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but a hosepipe can use as much water in an hour as a family of four would use in one day.

"This ban will help us to safeguard essential water supplies to our customers if the drought continues.”

People are also being urged to limit their water use by having quick showers instead of baths and turning off the tap while brushing teeth.

The company said customers could still water their gardens with a watering can and wash their vehicles using a bucket and sponge.

Mr Sanders said using a hosepipe for an hour was the equivalent of a family of four's total water for a day.

A free leakline number (0800 330033) has been set up to allow people to report any issues.

HOSEPIPE BAN RULES

YOU CAN:
*Wash your car at a car wash
*Fill a swimming pool, hot tub or pond
*Hose down a dog
*Fill all the watering cans you want to irrigate your lawn
*Spray water into a concrete mixer

YOU CAN'T:
*Water private gardens or allotments with a sprinkler or hose
*Wash a private car with a hosepipe at home
*Leave a hose running under your hedge
*Connect up drippers to water your patio plants
*Use a hose to water planted containers anywhere in the garden