Residents across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire will face a hosepipe ban beginning Saturday as water pressure mounts across southern England.
South East Water's water supply director stated that ensuring sufficient water for essential daily needs—drinking, cooking, and hygiene—remains the top priority. The company has asked communities to stop using hosepipes immediately to protect shared resources and avoid sudden household water loss.
Central and south-east England have recorded the longest unbroken spell of zero rainfall this century. Meteorological data shows an average of no measurable precipitation across weather stations in both regions for 14 consecutive days, from July 2 to July 15.
The current dry stretch marks the longest rain-free period for south-east England since a 15-day run in April 1997. For central England, it is the longest since a 14-day dry spell in June 1996.
Reservoir storage across England currently stands at 79%, roughly five percentage points below the seasonal long-term average. Six reservoirs are classified as notably low, while one in Somerset is reported as exceptionally low.
The dry conditions follow a year of repeated heat, with 28 days so far recording temperatures above 30°C in parts of the UK. The national record for such days in a single year remains 34, set in 1995.
