No hosepipe ban planned despite low river levels

Southern Water has said it has "no plans" to introduce a hosepipe ban in Sussex, despite a report showing the local rivers have fallen to "exceptionally low levels".

An Environment Agency report said flows on both the River Arun and River Rother had decreased significantly following one of the driest summers on record.

The report also said the Powdermill Reservoir, which supplies about 60,000 properties in the Hastings area, was very low.

Southern Water said reservoir levels remained above those seen during the 2022 drought, with its four surface water reservoirs at 64.8% capacity, but added it was "monitoring the situation very carefully".

In an email sent to customers earlier this week, Southern Water said: "It's no surprise that with such little rain, local water sources are under increasing pressure, and it's not just in our region."

More than two thirds of England is now officially in drought, including Sussex.

The last significant rainfall in the South East was two months ago on 11 June, making it the nation's driest July since records began in 1836.

When questioned about introducing a hosepipe ban, Southern Water said it had no plans to enforce it.

"We need to consider our preparedness should we have a dry winter and will be watching the outcome of the Drought Committee," it said.

Across the four surface water reservoirs - Bewl, Darwell, Powdermill and Weirwood - the water provider said there is a combined capacity of 64.8% remaining.

"For comparison, in 2022 this was as low as 57.2%, 16.1% below average," it said.

Hastings properties are also supplied by the Darwell reservoir, which is currently "larger and fuller" than the Powdermill.

"Over the winter, we fill Darwell from the Eastern River Rother and Powdermill from River Brede," Southern Water said.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.