Millions more Brits face hosepipe bans
Measures to tackle fears of drought
MILLIONS more homes could be hit with hosepipe bans, as months of dry and hot conditions push the country towards drought.
A second ban was announced yesterday, as people were told to report neighbours wasting water in hard-hit areas.
South East Water issued a “temporary usage ban” for Kent and Sussex, which will come into force at midnight on August 12. The firm said demand for water has broken all previous records, including the lockdown heatwave. Around 2.2 million customers will be affected.
The restrictions mean hosepipes cannot be used to water gardens, clean cars or fill ornamental ponds and private swimming pools.
More bans are expected to follow as reserves are not likely to be adequately replenished by the rain forecast for the coming days. England’s driest July since 1935 has left the bed exposed at Bewl Water Reservoir, which straddles Kent and East Sussex and is normally the largest stretch of open water in the South East of England.
Many reservoirs, including Ardingly in West Sussex, also remain low.
Southern Water has already enforced a ban for nearly a million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The firm also warned of fines of up to £1,000.
The Isle of Man announced a ban last week, and Welsh Water said it may have to have restrictions in Pembrokeshire. Experts warn how the country needs to change its water-consumption habits.
Prof Kevin Hiscock, of the University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Science, said: “Eastern and south-eastern parts of the country have the densest population and highest water demand.”
He said investment was needed to reduce leaks and to increase reservoir capacity, while more homes needed to switch to water meters.
The Dutch government yesterday declared a water shortage, while farmers in Tuscany are battling to salvage crops.