Southern Water won’t yet ban use of hosepipes but shares vital water advice amid Sussex heatwave

Southern Water is asking customers to ‘not use unnecessary water’.
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An amber warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office. Temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius have been reported in Sussex today (Saturday, August 13).

Meanwhile, an official drought has been declared across large parts of England, as low-water levels and tinder-dry conditions continue.

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During July, the South East has only seen eight per cent of average rainfall for the month, and the long term forecast for August and September is for similar weather.

South East Water has introduced a hosepipe ban (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)South East Water has introduced a hosepipe ban (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
South East Water has introduced a hosepipe ban (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

South East Water, which supplies much of East Sussex and parts of West Sussex, introduced a hosepipe and sprinkler ban from today (Friday August 12).

This will cover Mid Sussex, Eastbourne, parts of Lewes district, Wealden and parts of Rother.

Southern Water, meanwhile, has not issued a hosepipe ban but it has some important advice for customers.

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Press officer Simon Fluendy said: “Our region has less water per head of population than place like the Yemen and Morocco. Saving water helps the environment and ensures supplies are protected for the future.

“While we have no hosepipe ban in place in Sussex, we are asking our customers to think of nature and not use unnecessary water.”

Mr Fluendy said brown lawns bounce back and a dirty car are signs ‘that you care about nature during a heatwave’.

He added: “The latest water saving tip that caught my eye was putting a bucket in the shower. By the time you’ve finished rinsing the shampoo out, you’ll have a bucketful of water for your garden – a few suds don’t hurt plants at all.

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“The water for pasta, or better yet boiling an egg, is great for flowers too when it’s cooled. Eggs release potassium into the water which flowers love.

“My other favourite is the four minute shower. The average British shower is eight minutes.

"If you can cut that to four – perhaps by finding a four minute song – Golden Years by Bowie fits the bill – you’ll not only save water but a ton of money in energy costs.”

On an average day, Southern Water supplies 540 ml to its 2.6 million water customers but, throughout July, the company saw demand top 650ml/d.

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"Obviously this drains resources but it also stresses the system and can even cause pipes to burst,” Mr Fluendy said.

"I was at Balsdean yesterday (Thursday), where we have three boreholes and treatment work which supplies a large chunk of Brighton.

"The 76m shaft can’t operate during high tide as saline water comes in from the coast.

"The issue was raised yesterday of what happens if sea levels rise due to climate change.

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"Well, we’re already being hit by population growth which not only increases demand but reduces the amount of land where rain can seep down through the chalk.

"Sea level rises would hit us from the other direction – we wouldn’t be able to abstract from the deepest parts of coastal aquifers.

"That applies to all of the Sussex coast region where aquifers are a major source."

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