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SOUTH East Water has announced a hosepipe ban across its Sussex supply area following weeks of hot weather, high demand and below-average rainfall.
The temporary restrictions will officially come into force at 12.01am on Saturday, July 25, although customers are being asked to stop using hosepipes immediately to help protect water supplies.
The ban also covers the company’s supply areas in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Customers in Kent are already subject to temporary restrictions.
Once the ban is formally in place, customers must not use hosepipes for activities including watering gardens, washing cars, patios or boats, and filling swimming or paddling pools.
South East Water said just over half the expected rainfall had been recorded across its supply areas since March. This, combined with sustained heatwaves and increased demand, has caused river and groundwater levels to fall.
The company said its water resources had been in a healthy position during the spring following above-average winter rainfall. However, levels have since breached the triggers set out in its approved Drought Plan.
During the recent hot weather, South East Water said all available treatment works and water sources had been operating at full capacity. Water has also been moved around the network, while storage tanks have been kept as full as possible.
The company has increased the number of teams repairing leaks and bursts and has replaced sections of pipe considered particularly vulnerable. It is also working with farmers and landowners to improve the quality and quantity of water available from rivers and groundwater sources.
Douglas Whitfield, South East Water’s Water Supply Director, said: “We completely understand why everyone reaches for the hose when the weather gets this hot. It’s natural to want to enjoy our gardens and cool down, and we know how frustrating it is to hear that restrictions are coming into place.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this summer, but the sheer scale of the sustained heatwaves and lower levels of rainfall mean water resources are starting to be impacted.
“Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs: drinking, cooking and hygiene.”
Mr Whitfield said the restrictions were necessary to safeguard supplies and reduce the risk of homes experiencing a sudden loss of water.
He added: “We recognise how challenging these repeated restrictions are for our Sussex customers, with this being the fourth ban in five years.
“Our priority is to restore long-term resilience to break this cycle. We’re actively developing new water sources to build a more resilient supply for your community and to secure our water future.”
South East Water said it was exploring options for new water sources in Sussex as part of its longer-term plans.
Full details of the restrictions, including exemptions, are available at southeastwater.co.uk/tubs.
