VIDEO: Now there’s so much water

And while it says Ardingly Reservoir is now full and it is meeting its target for fixing leaks, it has reminded people of the need to conserve water.

This month is exactly one year on from the start of last year’s hosepipe ban that preceded a summer of rain and below-average temperatures.

The Mid Sussex Times was the first to record low water levels in October 2011 when its front page pictured Ardingly Reservoir more than half empty. South East Water described the level as “not unusual” at the end of the summer. However, six months later, on April 5, it brought in restrictions with fines of up to £1,000 for infringements.

The reservoir later reached an all-time low of just six per cent full following two dry winters which also left below-ground aquifers at record lows.

The drought affected customers in Kent, Surrey, 
Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire and seven other water companies across England also declared droughts. But heavy rain soon came and by June the picture changed to one of widespread flooding and now, one year on, water levels across the South East have risen dramatically following record rainfall in the last 12 months.

Ardingly Reservoir and Arlington Reservoir in East 
Sussex are both full while most underground water sources are also at normal levels again. Yet South East Water said this week that the need to use water wisely continued.

Lee Dance from South East Water said the UK weather remained unpredictable. “That is why we are working hard to ensure we secure water supplies by investing in new resources, installing new pipelines to move water around our network and tackling leaks as quickly as possible.”

He added: “Later this Spring we will publish our future plans which set out how we intend to secure water supplies - whatever the weather.”