Southern Water Rules Out Sussex Hosepipe Ban Despite Heatwave

Southern Water says customers in Sussex will not face a hosepipe ban despite the latest spell of hot weather.

The reassurance comes after the company introduced temporary restrictions for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while South East Water has also imposed a hosepipe ban affecting customers in Kent.

Speaking at a Southern Water event in Worthing, Managing Director Tim McMahon said Sussex remains in a strong position following higher levels of rainfall over the past year.

"We're in a resilient area," he said.

"It's actually better than this time last year because of the heavy rainfall we saw. So we're in a good position, with no risk of a temporary use ban in this area."

Mr McMahon said Worthing was particularly well placed because of the company's ability to move water around the network.

However, he urged customers to continue using water responsibly, particularly during the current hot spell.

He said: "The South East of England is a water scarce region – it's drier than Marrakech, drier than Sydney."

Southern Water is investing £44 million in improvements across the Worthing area to strengthen the resilience of its water network and upgrade infrastructure.

The company is encouraging customers to help conserve supplies by avoiding unnecessary water use, including filling paddling pools and taking baths where possible.