South East Water has warned that some customers will be without tap water unless usage is cut South East Water has warned that some customers will be without tap water unless usage is cut.

The water company issued the warning on Saturday following record-breaking demand on Friday for water which outstripped the amount which could be pumped through the network.

Despite producing an extra 150 million litres of drinking water a day, South East Water said the spike in the amount of water Kent and Sussex residents and visitors on their staycations are using is putting a strain on the county’s water network with some people experiencing very low pressure or no water at all.

As a result it is asking people to put away their hose pipes, garden sprinklers and garden water toys to help make sure everyone has the water they need to drink, cook, wash and clean.

Steve Andrews, Head of Central Operations for South East Water, said:

“Many people don’t realise that water is a fresh product which is produced 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“When we draw the water from deep underground or from rivers it has to be treated to a very high standard at our water treatment works before being sent along miles of pipe to homes and businesses.

“Our water technicians have been working round the clock to produce this extra drinking quality water needed - the equivalent of filling to the brim almost half a million baths – but with this record amount of water being used daily it is getting harder to keep up.

“I would like to say thank you to our many water savvy customers who are helping by being water aware, but I am now appealing to every one - household and businesses - to keep water for essential use only while the heat is on this weekend and next week.”

The amount of water available in reservoirs and groundwater stores continues to be good but the long, sustained period of hot weather experienced since May has resulted in demand for water remaining high particularly at peak demand times in the morning and early evening.

South East Water said that people filling super-sized paddling pools, hot tubs, using water sprinklers and hosepipes all at the same time adds huge pressure to the normal peak-period demands which can make it difficult to deliver the water quickly enough.

Customers nearer to the water treatment works are using too much leaving very little for the homes and businesses at the end of the pipe leaving them with low pressure or no water at all.