DEVON’S hosepipe ban could last until well into the new year, councillors have been told.

Reservoir levels are still low, and South West Water has already said it may have to restrict use still further in some parts of the county.

Alan Burrows, the water company’s director of environmental regulation, told a meeting of Torbay Council’s overview and scrutiny committee that the county would need to get as much as 130 per cent of its average annual rainfall for the rest of the year if levels were to be restored.

Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor, he said, was still just 15.8 per cent full. Current figures show that no reservoir in the South West has more than 40 per cent of its full capacity.

Mr Burrows explained that after a wet January and February this year, there had been no significant rainfall until June. Easing restrictions would depend, he added, on how intense the rain was and where exactly it fell.

September brought only about 65 per cent of the expected long-term average rainfall.

The Devon-wide hosepipe ban was activated on August 8, and SWW has applied for permission to impose restrictions on non-essential water use for businesses in places including Exeter, Exmouth, Crediton, Sidmouth, Tiverton and Honiton.

It could mean bans on watering plants on commercial premises; filling or maintaining certain non-domestic swimming pools and ponds; vehicle washing; cleaning non-domestic buildings and premises; cleaning industrial plant and dust suppression.

Mr Burrows said the water company could also apply to take more water than would normally be permitted to keep supplies going. This, however, would have an impact on the environment.

Latest figures for SWW’s largest reservoirs show that Roadford is 36.8 per cent full; Colliford is at 35 per cent; Stithians is at 21.9 per cent and Burrator is at 33.6 per cent.