TEAMS of ''water-spies'' have been set up to impose a hosepipe ban in
the mid-Ross-shire area.
Highland region's water authority says it will not hesitate to
prosecute persistent offenders.
More than 20,000 consumers in the Evanton, Dingwall, Maryburgh, Conon
Bridge, Muir of Ord, Marybank, Strathpeffer, Contin, and Black Isle
areas are affected but farmers and golf courses have been excluded from
the prohibition order.
It is not a water shortage which has caused the ban. Gardeners have
been leaving their hoses on overnight, reducing the pressure needed to
fill up the storage tanks in certain areas of the distribution network.
The mid-Ross area has been the worst affected, with some households
not getting water at all.
People in Caithness have also suffered and the authority has had to
drive in tanker loads of water to fill up their tanks. However no
hosepipe ban has been implemented in that area yet.
Water director Jim Johnstone said: ''My staff will be closely
monitoring the situation and anyone found using a hosepipe in
contravention of the ban will receive a letter. If they are caught for a
second time, then we will report them to the procurator-fiscal for
action.''
People will be allowed to use watering cans and motorists can still
clean their cars using a bucket and sponge.
Mr Johnstone said emergency measures to ensure a continuation of
supply for as many consumers as possible was stretching his budget.
''The money to pay for staff overtime hours and the extraordinary cost
of tank-loads of water will have to be found from somewhere and,
inevitably, the consumer will have to carry the can in some respect.''
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