South East Water has announced a new hosepipe ban affecting 2.4 million customers across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire, effective from Saturday. The company cited a prolonged dry spell, declining river levels, and the need to protect groundwater sources as reasons for the restriction.
Record-Breaking Dry Spell
According to Met Office data, central and south-east England have experienced the longest unbroken period of no recorded rainfall this century. An average of zero rainfall was measured across South East Water’s weather stations for 14 consecutive days from July 2 to July 15. This is the longest rain-free run for south-east England since a 15-day spell in April 1997, and for central England since a 14-day run in June 1996. Data for July 16 could extend these records further.
The ban prohibits the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, cleaning cars, patios, boats, or filling swimming pools. The company previously imposed a similar ban in Kent but has now expanded it to other regions due to sustained dry weather and high water demand.
Company Apologises and Urges Conservation
Douglas Whitfield, water supply director at South East Water, said: “Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs: drinking, cooking and hygiene. To safeguard our shared resource and help prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone helping us protect water supplies in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.”
Reservoir Levels Below Average
The Environment Agency’s weekly dry weather and drought report, released on Friday, indicated that reservoir storage levels in England are currently at 79%, approximately five percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year. Six reservoirs are classified as “notably low,” including Wimbleball in Somerset, Grafham in Cambridgeshire, and Hanningfield in Essex. Blagdon reservoir in Somerset is rated as “exceptionally low.”
The UK has recorded 28 days with temperatures exceeding 30°C this year: seven in May, eight in June, and 13 in July. The record for the most 30°C-plus days in a calendar year is 34, set in 1995.
