South East Water has asked its customers to use water for essential purposes only, hygiene, drinking and cooking, as a heatwave drives demand for drinking water sharply higher across the south east of England. The company, which supplies 2.3 million people across Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, made the appeal on 22 June with temperatures forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius.
Demand above normal
On Sunday 21 June, South East Water put 644 million litres of treated water into its network, 56 million litres more than the 588-million-litre daily average for June. The company said the figure was likely to rise further as the hot weather continued. Sustained high demand over consecutive days can leave customers at the far end of the pipe network, or on higher ground, with low pressure or supply interruptions, because water is being used faster than it can be treated and pumped to refill pipes and storage tanks.
What customers are being asked to do
Until temperatures fall, the company has asked customers to pause all hose use, including for refilling paddling pools and hot tubs and for jet washing, and to use water only for hygiene, drinking and cooking. It stopped short of a formal hosepipe ban. Periods of drought and high demand have become a recurring summer challenge for water companies in England.
How the company is responding
South East Water said it was keeping its treatment works running at capacity around the clock, putting more teams out to fix bursts and leaks, re-routing water across the network, using tankers to inject water and refill storage tanks, and managing pressure. Other UK suppliers have introduced restrictions during recent hot summers; Yorkshire Water announced hosepipe restrictions during a previous dry spell.
Building resilience
South East Water draws water from more than 250 boreholes, six rivers and six reservoirs, treating it at 88 works before delivering 543 million litres a day through 9,000 miles of pipe. The company said it was investing to make its network more resilient to a changing climate and more frequent heatwaves, with a five-year business plan proposing £2.1 billion of investment while aiming to keep customer bills affordable.
Frequently asked questions
What has South East Water asked customers to do?
To use water for essential purposes only, hygiene, drinking and cooking, and to pause all hose use, including for paddling pools, hot tubs and jet washing, until temperatures fall.
Is this a hosepipe ban?
No. South East Water has made a voluntary appeal to reduce non-essential use; it has not introduced a formal Temporary Use Ban.
Why is demand so high?
A heatwave with temperatures forecast above 35 degrees Celsius has pushed demand well above normal, 644 million litres on 21 June against a June daily average of 588 million litres.
Who does South East Water supply?
About 2.3 million customers across parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, through 9,000 miles of pipe.
