The highest rainfall in June since the beginning of the century has failed to remove the need for the hosepipe ban imposed by Essex & Suffolk Water recently. The county's reservoirs stand at only 75% full and long term stocks have to be protected for next summer.

As part of a water conservation strategy the Company distributed 3500 'Hippo' Water Savers to householders in Galleywood in March this year.This device is intended to reduce the volume of water flushed down the toilet. Consisting of a blue plastic bag, it is inserted below the ball float in the wc cistern and immersed in the water. The amount of water saved may be adjusted by trimming the top of the bag with scissors. This is regarded as an improvement on the bricks and plastic bottles that have been placed in cisterns by householders in the past.