Water company applies to ban usage over drought

A water company is looking to restrict usage after a drought was declared.

Southern Water is applying to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for a Drought Order and Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Environment Agency declared more than half of England in drought, and as a precautionary measure the ban could be implemented to "protect water supplies and the environment".

A spokesperson for Southern Water, said: "These are precautionary measures and making an application does not mean they will be introduced. However, we must follow the regulatory process to protect water supplies and the environment if dry conditions persist."

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were amongst seven English regions declared to be in drought conditions, last month.

The company said it was taking action as protecting the River Test remains one of its "highest priorities".

According to water regulator Ofwat, while hosepipe bans mainly stop households from using a hose to water their garden, fill a paddling pool or wash their car, NEUBs specifically target businesses.

It said if the ban had come into force, the activities businesses must stop using water for would include filling or maintaining a non-domestic swimming pool, paddling pool or pond, operating a mechanical vehicle washer and cleaning any vehicle or non-domestic premises.

A consultation will run between Tuesday 4 and 11 August to allow the company to continue taking water from the Test even if the river flows drop lower.

The spokesperson said the company was "doing everything possible to protect water supplies" and had reduced leakage by about 30% over the past two years.

They also said it was helping customers save water, and investing in major infrastructure projects.

A Drought Order does not mean Southern Water can take more water than usual from the Test but that they would be permitted to take the same amount even if river flows are lower.

Since January, the company said it had repaired more than 4,000 leaks, saving about 40m litres (8,798,752 gallons) of water across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

It said it had saved 12.5m litres (2.8 gallons) of water since the start of the hosepipe ban.