South East Water has implemented a hosepipe ban due to the prevailing hot weather conditions. The restriction will affect approximately 2.4 million customers in regions such as Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire starting this Saturday.
To prepare for the ban, the utility company is urging customers to immediately reduce their water consumption by refraining from using hosepipes for purposes like watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios, maintaining boats, or filling swimming pools. Initially, the ban was limited to customers in Kent.
Several other water suppliers, including Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, and Affinity Water, have also enforced similar restrictions due to a combination of low rainfall and high water demand.
South East Water cited a decrease in river levels and the need to safeguard groundwater sources as reasons for the ban, attributing them to below-average rainfall, soaring temperatures, and increased water usage. Douglas Whitfield, the water supply director at South East Water, emphasized the importance of ensuring sufficient water supply for essential needs like drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
The prolonged dry spell in central and south-east England, as indicated by Met Office data, has further exacerbated the water scarcity situation. Reservoir storage levels across England are currently at 79%, slightly below the typical level for this time of year, according to the Environment Agency’s recent dry weather and drought report.
The report highlights that specific reservoirs, such as Wimbleball in Somerset, Grafham in Cambridgeshire, and Hanningfield in Essex, are experiencing notably low water levels. Blagdon reservoir in Somerset is classified as exceptionally low on water reserves.
Moreover, the rising temperatures have led to an increase in days exceeding 30°C in the UK, with 28 such days recorded in 2026, spanning May, June, and July. Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, Dr. Doug Parr, emphasized the urgency for water companies to address leakages and invest in network repairs to combat the impacts of climate change on water security.
