South East Water announces new hosepipe ban for Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire

Summary

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South East Water has extended a hosepipe ban to include its customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire
The temporary ban officially comes into force from 00:01 on Saturday but customers are being asked to abide by it "immediately"
The firm had already imposed a hosepipe ban in Kent but it has now been extended to other counties - affecting a total of 2.4m people
This marks the fourth hosepipe ban in five years for South East Water customers in Sussex, says BBC South East Environment Correspondent Fiona Irving
The company said lower than average rainfall, continued hot weather and high demand left it with no alternative
Analysis: SEW loses more water from leaks than it will save from the hosepipe ban, says Fiona Irving

Live Reporting

Edited by Hamish Mureddu-Reid, with reporting by Patrick Barlow

What you cannot do during a hosepipe banpublished at 09:46 BST 20 July

Image source, Getty Images
South East Water has urged customers to refrain from:
- Watering a garden using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private motor-vehicle (or a trailer for such a vehicle) using a hosepipe
- Watering plants on domestic or other non-commercial premises using a hosepipe
- Cleaning a private leisure boat using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
- Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use (such as hot tubs)
- Filling or maintaining a domestic pond (man-made or natural) using a hosepipe
- Filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (including a cascade or any other display of moving water, and includes filling by permanent plumbing)
- Cleaning walls, or windows, of domestic premises using a hosepipe. There are some exceptions for window cleaning businesses
- Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
- Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe
Why is there a hosepipe ban?published at 09:34 BST 20 July

Image source, South East Water
South East Water (SEW) said it had to bring in the hosepipe ban to protect some groundwater sources because river levels had declined.
This was due to lower than average rainfall, continued hot weather and high demand, the company said.
"This means we must now introduce hosepipe restrictions in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to join Kent where there are already restrictions," a SEW spokesperson added.

'Please follow these restrictions straight away'published at 09:24 BST 20 July

The ban for customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire officially comes into force from 00:01 on Saturday.
But South East Water said: "Please follow these restrictions straight away to protect your water supply immediately and the local environment."
'We have not taken this decision lightly'published at 09:11 BST 20 July

Image source, Getty Images
South East Water (SEW) said Sussex and Kent had restrictions in four of the last five years, while Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire had not had one in place for 14 years.
"We have not taken this decision lightly," the company added.
SEW said water was being drawn from its storage tanks faster than it could be treated and refilled.
"Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs, like drinking, cooking and hygiene, and that we protect our vulnerable customers," it said.

Hosepipe ban extended to cover Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshirepublished at 09:07 BST 20 July
Breaking

South East Water has extended its hosepipe ban to cover all of its customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
The ban had previously been in place just for its customers in Kent.
This is a breaking news story. Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.