UK Imposes Restrictions on Use of Drinking Water

Fri Jun 16 2023
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LONDON: Millions of people in areas of southern Britain will be prohibited from using garden hoses as a hot season creates record demand for drinking water, according to authorities on Friday.

A temporary ban will go into effect on June 26 for southern Kent and Sussex residents, as forecasts predict a dry summer. South East Water said demand in June shattered records despite the firm providing more than 120 million liters of water per day. On Friday, three East Sussex schools were forced to close partially due to a lack of water for sanitary facilities.

CEO David Hinton said the situation has advanced far faster than last year. He added that, despite asking customers to assist them use water solely for vital purposes, they have now been forced to implement this temporary usage ban limit to protect customers’ supply across Kent and Sussex.

Southern Water, which serves parts of Kent, issued a warning on Thursday that the county’s water demand was “outstripping supply.” According to the provider, demand was 15% higher than usual for this time of year. Water companies use hosepipe bans, also known as temporary use bans to manage supplies during periods of high demand and low supply. They restrict non-essential uses like watering gardens, filling paddling pools, and washing automobiles with hosepipes. Anyone caught breaking the ban faces a fine of up to £1,000 ($1,300).

According to the country’s meteorological agency, England had its joint warmest summer on record last year, tied with 2018. Temperatures in certain regions of the country reached more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), a record. Due to persistent dry weather, reservoir levels are already dropping in certain parts of England. In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued a water scarcity alert for every region, with major shortages expected in a third of the country by the end of the month.

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