South East Water announced on 16 June 2023 that a temporary use ban restricting hosepipes and sprinklers would be enforced from 26 June for its customers across Kent and Sussex1. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said the restrictions would affect around 580,000 homes2.
The company said demand for drinking water in the two counties had reached record levels in June, with customers using a similar amount to the drought the previous year, and that stocks of drinking water had reduced to very low levels in its local clean water storage tanks1. It said some customers had experienced low pressure or no water over the previous week, and that its facilities were working at full output, with every water treatment works and water source producing treated water1. South East Water said that despite producing an additional 120 million litres of water a day, equivalent to supplying four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne, it could not return storage tanks to satisfactory levels to consistently provide clean safe drinking water for its 2.3m customers1.
Under the restrictions, customers will be prevented from using hosepipes for watering their gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, and from filling swimming and paddling pools1. The company said the long-term forecast for the rest of the summer was for a dry period with little rainfall, although temperatures might reduce slightly1.
"Despite asking for customers help to use water for essential uses only, regretably we've now been left with no choice by to introduce this temporary use ban restriction to protect customers supplies across Kent and Sussex."
CCW said hosepipes and sprinklers use extremely large volumes of water and that restricting their use would help ensure everyone has water for essential use, and that the company's communication with affected customers needed to improve so people were not left in the dark2.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | 16 June 20231 |
| Enforced from | 26 June 20231 |
| Area | Kent and Sussex1 |
| Households affected | Around 580,000 homes, per CCW2 |
| Customers supplied | 2.3m1 |
| Restricted uses | Hosepipes for gardens, cars, patios and boats; filling swimming and paddling pools1 |
Why it matters for households
Households in Kent and Sussex supplied by South East Water are affected from 26 June 2023, when the temporary use ban takes effect1. The company's list of restricted uses covers garden watering, car washing, patios and boats, and filling swimming and paddling pools1; the rules on what can and cannot be done and the guidance on watering a garden, allotment or new lawn set out the detail, and a water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist covers household preparation. Separate guidance covers paddling pools, ponds and car washing and fines and how to report misuse; the heatwaves and drought hub collects these guides.
South East Water said its Priority Services Register is available for customers with medical conditions, restricted mobility, additional needs, or sight and hearing issues who may need extra support, and directed them to its Customer Care Team on 0800 952 4000 or its website1. It also pointed customers to water saving tips and free water efficiency gadgets, and to information on the latest water demand levels across the region1.
What happens next
The ban is enforced from 26 June 20231. South East Water said it was submitting proposals to its regulator, Ofwat, to solve these issues, citing climate change and other factors increasing the frequency of such events1. No end date for the restrictions has been reported.
Hosepipe Bans and the Garden
Hosepipe Ban Rules
Pools, Ponds and Car Washing
Hosepipe Ban Fines and Reporting
Household Guide to Drought
