Brits hit by hosepipe ban after thousands left without water for days as warm spell continues
BRITS have been hit by a hosepipe ban – after thousands were left without water for days as a warm spell continues.
South East Water is restricting usage by households in Kent and Sussex following record levels of demand.
The hosepipe ban will be in place from June 26 for the company’s 2.3million customers – despite the company producing an additional 120million litres of water a day.
Cornwall and most of Devon are also under a hosepipe ban rolled over from last year.
South East Water CEO David Hinton said: “This situation has developed much more rapidly than last year.
“Understandably, we’ve seen customer demand increase in line with the hotter weather, however this has impacted our ability to keep all customers in supply at all times.
“Despite asking for customers help to use water for essential uses only, regrettably we’ve now been left with no choice but to introduce this temporary use ban restriction to protect customers supplies across Kent and Sussex.
“The long-term forecast for the rest of the summer is for a dry period with little rainfall, although temperatures may reduce slightly.
“Restricting the use of hosepipes and sprinklers to make sure we have enough water for our customers’ essential use, will ensure we can serve our vulnerable customers and to protect the local environment.
He added: “The temporary restrictions, will be enforced from 26 June.
“This will mean that customers will be prevented from using hosepipes for watering their gardens, washing cars, patios and boats and from filling swimming and paddling pools.
“We are very aware that climate change and other factors are increasing the frequency of these events and we are submitting proposals to our regulator, Ofwat to solve these issues.
“I would like to thank everyone who has already taken steps to try and reduce their overall water use but despite this, demand still remains very high which is why we have taken this decision to bring in temporary use restrictions.”
It comes after schools were closed and homes were left without water – with warnings of worse to come.
People living across Kent and Sussex have gone days without water, with utility chiefs urging “essential use only”.
And children have been made to stay home from school due to the water shortages.
South East Water bosses have set up bottled water stations across affected areas while it builds up reserves.
Three East Sussex primary schools had emergency closures due to the lack of water yesterday – and one of them, Rotherfield Primary School in Crowborough, remained shut yesterday.
Beacon Academy sixth form students, also in Crowborough, were advised to attend a different site due to the loss of water supply in the area.
Wealden MP Nus Ghani hit out at South East Water for failing its customers including schools.
She said in a video message on Twitter: “So it’s day four of South East Water failing to deliver water to many areas in Wealden, Wadhurst, Mayfield, Rotherfield, Crowborough.
“I’ve spoken to headteachers, businesses, families and it’s appalling.
“They keep saying it’s a supply and demand issue because it’s hot, but we have hot days in the summer and we’re just coming to terms with dealing with the last water crisis six months ago.
“South East Water are failing us again and they’ve learnt nothing from letting us down at Christmas.”