South East Water has introduced hosepipe restrictions for Kent customers after heatwave-driven demand put pressure on drinking water treatment and storage capacity.
South East Water has announced temporary hosepipe restrictions for customers in its Kent supply area after demand for drinking water reached very high levels during June.
The company said the restrictions are needed to help maintain a consistent public water supply across the county during the latest heatwave to affect the region.
The restrictions will be enforced from 00.01 on Friday, 3 July, although South East Water is asking customers in Kent to respect them immediately.
The company has published customer information on its Kent hosepipe restrictions page.
South East Water hosepipe restrictions follow heatwave demand
South East Water said the South East is experiencing its second heatwave of the year, following rainfall from March to May that was only 36% of normal levels.
Although raw water levels remain in a good position after wetter winter months, the company said the issue is its capacity to treat and pump enough water to meet peak demand.
Recent high temperatures have pushed customer demand for treated water to near-record levels.
South East Water said demand has breached the triggers in its approved Drought Plan, prompting the company to introduce restrictions to help keep customers in supply during the summer.
Kent drinking water network under pressure
South East Water said every available water treatment works and source is currently producing treated water at full capacity.
The company said it filled drinking water storage tanks as much as possible before the heatwave began, increased the number of teams fixing bursts and leaks, and is re-routing water around the network to where it is needed most.
Recent infrastructure upgrades in West Kent have strengthened the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge networks against a repeat of winter interruptions, according to the company.
However, the current heatwave is affecting drinking water storage levels across Kent, requiring a county-wide approach to restrictions.
South East Water said it is producing more than an additional 100 million litres of water a day, equivalent to supplying approximately three towns the size of Maidstone. Despite this, demand still needs to be reduced to avoid supply interruptions across the network.
Restrictions cover hosepipes and sprinklers
The temporary use restrictions mean customers should not use hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats, or filling swimming and paddling pools.
South East Water is asking customers to stop using hosepipes immediately, ahead of formal enforcement from Friday, 3 July.
David Hinton, Chief Executive Officer, South East Water, said: “We completely understand why everyone reaches for the hose when the weather gets this hot. It’s natural to want to enjoy our gardens and cool down, and we know how frustrating it is to hear that restrictions are coming into place.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to prepare for this summer, but the sheer scale of this sustained heatwave means drinking water is being drawn from our storage tanks faster than it can be treated and refilled. Our absolute priority has to be making sure there is always enough water for everyone’s essential daily needs—like hygiene, drinking and cooking—and that we protect our vulnerable customers.
“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone helping us protect Kent’s water.”
Company points to resilience investment
South East Water said its business plan includes investment to improve resilience in Kent’s water supply network over the short, medium and longer term.
The company said a new water treatment works in Maidstone will officially open in the coming weeks, while additional pipes will be installed across the county to help move water around more easily.
The company said this will be supported by additional storage to provide a buffer against demand increases.
In the longer term, South East Water is developing a new surface reservoir at Broad Oak near Canterbury.
Hinton said finally, “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.”
The restrictions come shortly after South East Water announced John Halsall as CEO-designate, subject to regulatory approvals, as the company seeks to improve supply reliability and rebuild trust.
For more coverage of water supply resilience and demand management, visit H2O Global News’ Water Management section.
Source: South East Water
