South East Water has implemented a hosepipe ban due to the prevailing hot weather conditions. The ban will affect approximately 2.4 million customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire starting from Saturday.
In preparation for the restrictions, the company is urging customers to immediately reduce water usage by refraining from using hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios, maintaining boats, or filling swimming pools. Initially, the ban was applicable only to customers in Kent.
Other water suppliers like Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, and Affinity Water have also enforced similar restrictions due to the combination of minimal rainfall and a surge in water demand.
Greenpeace highlighted that water companies in England and Wales are losing a significant amount of water through leaky pipes compared to the restrictions imposed. South East Water noted a decrease in river levels and the necessity to safeguard groundwater sources due to below-average rainfall, hot temperatures, and heightened water consumption.
Douglas Whitfield, the water supply director at South East Water, emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate water supply for essential needs like drinking, cooking, and hygiene. He expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the ban and extended gratitude to the communities for their cooperation in preserving water resources in the affected regions.
Recent data from the Met Office indicates that central and south-east England have experienced the longest continuous period without recorded rainfall in this century. Reservoir storage levels in England are currently at 79%, slightly below the long-term average for this time of the year, according to the Environment Agency.
Several reservoirs, including Wimbleball in Somerset, Grafham in Cambridgeshire, and Hanningfield in Essex, are classified as having notably low water levels. The situation is more severe at Blagdon reservoir in Somerset, which is considered to have exceptionally low water levels.
In light of prolonged hot and dry weather, Greenpeace UK emphasized the importance of water conservation while calling for action to address water leaks and reduce fossil-fuel pollution that contributes to extreme heat and drought. The organization highlighted the need for government intervention to ensure water security and environmental protection.