South East Water has asked residents in Kent and Sussex to use water only for essential purposes such as drinking, washing, and cooking after demand surged to 100 million litres above average on Monday. The company reported that 670 million litres of drinking water were used across its supply area, significantly higher than the seasonal norm.
Record Temperatures Drive Demand
The extreme heat over recent days has led to water outages for hundreds of homes. While the company has not imposed a temporary use ban—which would prohibit hosepipes for paddling pools, garden watering, or car washing—it is urging voluntary conservation.
Matthew Dean, head of operations control at South East Water, stated: "We had planned for this given the weather forecasts by increasing output at our water treatment works and putting extra water into the network. Our fleet of tankers has been working 24/7 to add water in high-demand areas. However, some customers on higher ground or at the far end of the network may experience low pressure or supply interruptions, especially at peak times."
Public Appeal for Conservation
In an email to customers, the company requested they stop using jet washers, hosepipes, and sprinklers, swap paddling pools for water blasters, and avoid washing cars. It also encouraged reusing bath, shower, and sink water for gardens, adding: "Act now, please do all you can to cut down on everything but essential water use."
Last week, the House of Lords environment and climate change committee urged the government to launch a nationwide public campaign to reduce water usage, warning that the UK could face daily shortfalls of 5 billion litres by 2055 without action. Currently, UK residents use up to 140 litres per day, far exceeding many European countries. The government aims to reduce personal consumption to 122 litres per day by 2038.
Some customers have expressed frustration. Brendan May tweeted: "Hilarious email from @sewateruk a couple of days into warm weather, in May, pleading 'we need your help' imploring people not to use much water as the system already can't cope. We needed your help when we had no running water for days, twice. Sod off, stop lining your pockets."
