17million more of us could be hit by a hosepipe ban

MILLIONS more people will be hit by hosepipe and sprinkler bans, it has emerged, after two further water companies brought in emergency measures.

As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Mail, South East Water announced a hosepipe ban from tomorrow week, which will affect two million homes in Kent and Sussex.

Now 17 million more could be hit as Thames Water and South West Water both warned they could follow suit. With a hosepipe ban also in effect along parts of the south coast, it means a total of 20 million people are now affected by wateruse restrictions in England.

South East Water blamed the driest July since records began and ‘record breaking demand’ for its decision.

Last week Southern Water announced a hosepipe ban on one million homes in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from tomorrow, with £ 1,000 fines threatened.

The Thames Water ban will hit the largest number of homes – around 15 million in London and the Thames Valley – with around two million in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset affected by the South West Water ban.

Thames Water said unless rain falls soon ‘the next stage would be a temporary use ban which is likely to include hosepipes’ – the company’s first since 2012.

South West Water, which last imposed a ban in 1996, said: ‘We may introduce formal restrictions over the coming weeks.’

South East Water’s ban may enrage critics as it loses around 88.5 million litres of water a day to leaks. Dr Simon Lee, co-editor of the Royal Meteorological Society’s Weather journal, said: ‘It is very concerning’ there is “zero or no meaningful” rain predicted for large parts of the country for the next 16 days.’

The Environment Agency said it wanted water companies to ‘consider’ hosepipe bans to protect water resources.