South East Water Hosepipe Ban To Affect 2.4 Million People

South East Water has expanded its hosepipe ban to cover 2.4 million people across parts of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, adding 1.5 million customers to restrictions already in force in Kent, BBC reported. The ban will start at 00:01 BST on Saturday, but the company has asked customers to follow it immediately as record-breaking temperatures and dry weather strain supplies. Households in affected areas will be barred from using hosepipes for tasks including cleaning, filling ponds and watering plants. South East Water said levels at Arlington Reservoir in East Sussex had fallen to where its drought plan required restrictions, and that the region had received just 55% of its average rainfall since March.