An emergency water restriction has been imposed across parts of Southeast England, with residents in West Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire being told that water use is for 'essential purposes only' with immediate effect.
The drastic measures, announced by Southern Water on Friday, come as the region's reservoirs face critically low levels following an extended period of exceptionally dry weather and high demand during the current heatwave.
Who is affected by the emergency measures?
The emergency order impacts customers supplied from the Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex. This means households and businesses in specific postcode areas are now legally required to limit their water use to essential needs such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation.
This move is more severe than the hosepipe bans already in place for approximately 1.5 million people across Kent and Sussex. An official hosepipe ban for these customers commenced earlier this week, prohibiting the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, or filling paddling pools.
Why has this happened?
Southern Water has cited a perfect storm of environmental factors leading to the crisis:
- Record low rainfall throughout the autumn, winter, and spring seasons.
- The driest July on record for the region since 1836.
- An ongoing heatwave causing a significant surge in water demand.
The combination has led to reservoir levels dropping to a point where emergency action is necessary to protect public water supplies.
What does 'essential use only' mean for residents?
Customers under the emergency order must avoid all non-essential water use. This includes:
- Using hosepipes or sprinklers.
- Washing private vehicles.
- Filling ornamental fountains or pools.
- Watering gardens or lawns.
The water company has stated it is 'working around the clock' to fix leaks and maintain supplies for critical services like hospitals. They are urging all customers, even those not directly under the ban, to conserve water wherever possible.
With the hot weather forecast to continue, officials warn that further restrictions cannot be ruled out if the situation does not improve.
