Stephen Schwarzman, the billionaire founder of Blackstone and a supporter of Donald Trump, has been prevented from using water tankers to fill a lake on his Wiltshire estate during a drought. Southern Water ordered tanker companies to cease deliveries to the 2,500-acre Conholt Park after residents filmed vehicles operating day and night.
Workers were using water from standpipes in Hampshire, where a hosepipe ban is in place, to fill a new lake as part of estate renovations. While the activity was legal—since construction use is exempt from domestic bans—residents complained, and the water company said it was “appalled” by the behaviour.
Schwarzman, worth over £30bn, backed Trump in the 2024 election and has praised his tariff policy. His spokesperson said the estate had “readjusted the supply” after Southern Water’s request, and that water was sourced from licensed providers, largely outside the region.
Southern Water’s managing director, Tim McMahon, called the incident “highly unusual” and announced a review to close legal loopholes. The company has applied for a drought order to ban businesses from filling lakes and swimming pools, and to take water from the River Test even below safe flow levels.
England faces a nationally significant water shortfall after a record dry spring and summer, with reservoirs at record lows. The Environment Agency expects drought conditions and hosepipe bans to continue into autumn.
