Southern Water has become the first utility in the UK mainland to announce drought measures, including a ban on hosepipes, following record dry temperatures across the country.
A hose ban will be in place in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to protect the River Test and River Itchen as they reach low levels due to a lack of rain. It is expected that around 1.5 million people will be affected by the measures.
Government sources say this could be the first of a series of drought measures announced across the UK as water levels in reservoirs and rivers fall. Most parts of England have not had drought measures implemented for more than a decade.
According to the Met Office, July 2022 has been England’s driest July since 1911, with just 24% of the amount of rain that would be expected in an average July.
Southern Water is introducing a temporary usage ban for customers in the affected areas, the first of its kind in the region since 2012.
Dr Alison Hoyle, director of risk and compliance at Southern Water, said: “We have not taken this decision lightly and know that the temporary ban on use will have an impact on our customers.
“We are working with the Environment Agency to ensure we act responsibly to protect our environment. We are asking everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to do their part by supporting these measures and only use water they need.
“We are experiencing one of the driest years on record for more than a century and have seen record temperatures. River flows are about 25% lower than they should be for July, which equates to losing more than 25 million of water baths.
“We ask our customers to help protect our rivers and the habitats that live in them by reducing their water use. We believe a temporary use ban is a responsible and vital step in reducing the amount of water taken of the rivers Test and Itchen”.
Under the terms of this measure, hoses will no longer be allowed to be used to water gardens or clean cars, and ponds and ornamental pools must not be filled.
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Earlier this week, the government held an emergency drought meeting with farmers, water companies and other stakeholders to coordinate measures.
The UK has experienced record dry conditions, with the lowest rainfall since the 1970s.
Last week’s record heat wave baked the soil, prompting farmers to increase irrigation for crops and increase the rate of evaporation from waterways.
Farmers could be banned from irrigating their crops during the crucial August-September period, with root vegetables such as potatoes at particular risk. Crops could fail due to lack of water, and dry soil can make harvesting difficult.